A new prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia has begun, officials in both countries said Monday, with Ukrainian soldiers who have spent nearly the entire duration of the war in captivity among those returning home.

Russia launched its biggest barrage of the war with nearly 500 drones at Ukraine, while the Kremlin says it remains open to prisoner exchanges.

Ukraine brought home the bodies of 1,212 servicemen killed in the war with Russia, the Ukrainian official body responsible for exchanging prisoners of war said on Wednesday. "As a result of the repatriation activities

The warring sides also exchanged prisoners in one of the few results of talks last week, and Russia reported new attacks on the front line.