In a significant development, Ukraine and Russia exchanged over 200 prisoners, including numerous injured soldiers, marking their second swap in two days.
At a Glance
- 206 prisoners were exchanged between Ukraine and Russia
- The United Arab Emirates brokered the exchange, the 56th since February 2022
- All 103 Ukrainian returnees were military personnel
- Many released prisoners had been held since early 2022
- Released servicemen participated in the defense of various Ukrainian cities
Prisoner Exchange Details
In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Ukraine and Russia conducted a major prisoner exchange involving 206 individuals. The swap, brokered by the United Arab Emirates, marks the 56th such exchange since the onset of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that all 103 Ukrainians returned were military personnel, comprising 82 soldiers and privates, along with 21 officers.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the 103 Russian soldiers exchanged were captured in the Kursk region during a Ukrainian incursion in August. Many of the prisoners on both sides had been held since the early days of the conflict, enduring nearly two years of captivity.
More than 200 prisoners of war exchanged between Ukraine and Russia
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Ukrainian Servicemen’s Return
The released Ukrainian servicemen had participated in the defense of several key cities, including Mariupol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Kyiv. Among the returnees were two security guards from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, highlighting the diverse roles of those captured during the conflict.
“Thanks to our exchange team for their work. And my deep gratitude to all our brave combat brigades who continue to contribute to the ‘exchange fun’ for our country,” Zelensky said.
Many of the released Ukrainian prisoners are in serious condition due to injuries sustained during their captivity or in combat. They will receive necessary medical care upon their return. This exchange brings the total number of Ukrainians returned since the beginning of the full-scale invasion to 3,672.
Russian Servicemen’s Status
The Russian Defense Ministry provided an update on the status of their returned servicemen. According to their statement, the exchanged Russian soldiers are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving psychological and medical assistance.
“Currently, all Russian servicemen are in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, where they are provided with the necessary psychological and medical assistance, as well as the opportunity to contact their relatives,” Russia said Saturday.
The exchange comes amid ongoing tensions and military operations in various parts of Ukraine. Recent Russian shelling has resulted in civilian casualties across southern, southeastern, and eastern Ukraine, including incidents in Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Kherson, and Kharkiv regions. These developments underscore the continuing humanitarian toll of the conflict, even as diplomatic efforts like prisoner exchanges offer glimmers of progress.
