According to reports, Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 205 prisoners of war each in one of the latest humanitarian swaps linked to the ongoing conflict between the two countries. The exchange was confirmed by officials from both sides, with mediation support reportedly coming from the United Arab Emirates.
Recent negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv have also included discussions of a much larger 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange and temporary ceasefire arrangements tied to diplomatic efforts involving the United States.
Zelensky said they included troops who fought in the bloody battle for Mariupol’s steelworks Azovtsal and those who defended Chernobyl, which briefly fell to Moscow at the start of its invasion.
The POW swaps remain one of the few remaining areas of cooperation between the two sides, at war since Russia ordered troops into its neighbour in February 2022.
Moscow’s defence ministry said its troops were brought to its ally Belarus, where “they are receiving the necessary psychological and medical assistance”.
It added that “the United Arab Emirates provided humanitarian assistance during the return of the Russian servicemen from captivity”.
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