The swap marks the first stage of the agreement negotiated at the second round of direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul on June 2.

Warner Bros Discovery said on Monday it would split into two companies, separating its studios and streaming business from its fading cable television networks as the parent of HBO and CNN looks to compete better in the streaming era.

Russia said Sunday that trains carrying more bodies of Ukrainian soldiers were due to depart towards the Ukrainian border, escalating a spat with Kyiv over a prisoner of war swap.