Russia and Ukraine conducted a significant exchange of prisoners on Saturday, with a total of 206 individuals being swapped. This was the second such swap in two days and was facilitated by negotiations mediated by the United Arab Emirates. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that all 103 Ukrainians returned were from the military, including soldiers, privates, and officers.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the 103 Russian soldiers exchanged had been taken prisoner in the Kursk region during a surprise incursion by Ukrainian forces in August. Zelenskyy expressed joy at the return of these soldiers, posting pictures of them wrapped in the national flag and embracing each other.
The UAE played a role in mediating the exchange, marking the eighth time they had done so since the start of 2024. This swap was the third since Ukraine began a cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August. Ukrainian officials revealed that their forces had captured at least 600 Russian soldiers during the incursion, leading to successful negotiations for the return of captured Ukrainians.
Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian ombudsman, reported that the majority of the freed Ukrainians had been in Russian captivity since the early days of the invasion. He shared a video showing the servicemen shouting “Glory to Ukraine” as they were reunited with their country. Overall, Kyiv has secured the return of 3,672 Ukrainians in 57 exchanges with Russia.
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