Russia and Ukraine have conducted a prisoner exchange, releasing 100 prisoners of war from each side, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) acting as a mediator, Reuters reports.
Russia’s Defence Ministry announced on Telegram that the returning soldiers would undergo medical examinations in Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for the UAE’s humanitarian mediation and highlighted the return of servicemen who had defended the Sea of Azov port of Mariupol, which was captured by Russian forces in May 2022.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry’s Intelligence Directorate, stated that a total of 3,135 Ukrainian POWs have been brought home so far. He urged Ukrainians to remain patient in the complex process of negotiations.
