On Friday, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced that Ukraine had secured the release of 49 individuals from Russian captivity in a recent prisoner exchange.
This swap, the 56th of its kind since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, was facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, according to a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency. Zelenskiy emphasized the importance of bringing every Ukrainian, both military and civilian, back home.
Among those released were seven civilians along with personnel from the armed forces, national guard, police, and border guard service, as reported by Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.
The number of Russians released has not been disclosed, and Moscow has yet to comment on the exchange. Ukrainian video footage captured the emotional reunions, with service personnel being greeted with flowers and gratitude.
This swap follows recent events, including Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region and the capture of Russian soldiers, which Ukraine hopes will aid in future exchanges. Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets stated that since the invasion began, Ukraine has secured the return of 3,569 individuals from Russian captivity.
Peoplesmind
