On Saturday, Ukraine and Russia completed a prisoner swap, each releasing 115 prisoners of war for a total of 230.
The exchange, facilitated by officials in the United Arab Emirates, included 82 Ukrainian prisoners who had been captured by Russian forces during the defense of Mariupol. All of the Russian prisoners had been detained by Ukraine during recent attacks in Russia’s Kursk region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on X that the returned prisoners include members from the National Guard, the Armed Forces, the Navy, and the State Border Guard Service, and emphasized ongoing efforts to secure the release of all captives.
The swap coincided with the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union, which included Russia. This exchange marks the seventh prisoner swap between the two countries since the conflict began.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the prisoners released by Ukraine have been transported to Belarus, while the Ukrainian prisoners are in an undisclosed location but are now under Ukrainian control.
This event follows a recent escalation in the Kursk region and comes amid continued U.S. military support for Ukraine, as announced by President Joe Biden.
Peoplesmind
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