Russia and Ukraine on Saturday conducted prisoners exchange, with each side releasing 115 prisoners after the mediation from the United Arab Emirates, an Emirati official said.
The exchange marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict between the two nations, as it represents the first prisoner swap since Ukraine initiated military operations within Russian territory earlier this month on August 6.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared a picture of the released Ukrainian POWs draped in the country’s blue and yellow flags, embracing each other and said, “Another 115 of our defenders have returned home today. These are soldiers of the National Guard, the Armed Forces, the Navy, the State Border Guard Service.”
He also expressed his appreciation for the Ukrainian troops who contributed to the pool of prisoners available for exchange.
The Russian defense ministry said, “As a result of a negotiation process, 115 Russian servicemen taken prisoner in the Kursk region have been returned from territories controlled by the Kyiv regime. ” The released soldiers are currently in Belarus, where they will receive medical treatment and rehabilitation before returning to Russia, they added.
This marks the seventh prisoner exchange mediated by the UAE since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Both countries expressed their gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for their efforts in facilitating the swap deal.
The United Arab Emirates stated that it had “successfully mediated a new captives exchange between the Russian Federation and the republic of Ukraine.”
(With input from agencies)