Russia and Ukraine conducted a significant prisoner exchange on Monday, swapping 150 prisoners from each side captured during their ongoing conflict, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Telegram that 189 Ukrainians had returned home, including 187 servicemen – officers, soldiers, and sergeants – and two civilians captured in Mariupol.
“The freed troops include military personnel who fought for the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the city of Mariupol, and Snake Island in the Black Sea,” Zelensky noted in his post.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) played a crucial role in mediating the exchange. In a statement, the UAE Foreign Ministry highlighted that Monday’s swap marks the tenth successful exchange of Russian and Ukrainian captives mediated by the UAE in 2024.
The ministry emphasized the UAE’s position as a reliable mediator, reiterating its commitment to pursuing peaceful solutions to the Ukraine conflict and addressing its humanitarian consequences, including assistance for refugees and captives.
To date, Russia and Ukraine have conducted 59 prisoner exchanges, according to the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
