KYIV, Ukraine — In a significant development, Russia and Ukraine have successfully conducted a prisoner swap that resulted in the release of hundreds of captives. This latest exchange was facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, according to officials who provided updates on the situation on Monday.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that 189 individuals, comprising military personnel, border guards, national guards, as well as two civilians, had been released. He expressed gratitude to the UAE for their instrumental role in the negotiations for this exchange.
In parallel, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that 150 of its soldiers were also freed in line with the exchange agreement, mentioning that both sides released an equal number of individuals. However, there was a noted discrepancy regarding the exact figures involved in the swap, which was not immediately explained.
“We are tirelessly working towards the liberation of everyone currently held in Russian captivity,” stated Zelenskyy. He emphasized the importance of not forgetting any individual in this context, sharing photographs of Ukrainian soldiers being transported on a bus, with several waving the national blue-and-yellow flags.
Among those released were defenders from Snake Island, located off the Black Sea coast near Odesa, a site taken by Russian forces during the initial days of the invasion, as well as troops from Mariupol, a city that endured a prolonged siege before falling into Russian hands.
“It is always uplifting to bring our people back from Russian captivity,” Zelenskyy remarked. “Today marks one of those moments: we have successfully returned 189 of our compatriots home.”
In a related update from Moscow, the Defense Ministry indicated that the newly released Russian servicemen were initially transported to Belarus, a neighboring ally of Russia, where they received both psychological and medical assistance before returning to Russia.
The recent prisoner exchange has been part of an ongoing pattern, with Russia and Ukraine having engaged in numerous similar swaps throughout the nearly three-year conflict.
This development coincides with an announcement from President Joe Biden, who revealed on Monday that the United States would be sending approximately $2.5 billion in additional weaponry to Ukraine. This initiative highlights the urgency to allocate financial resources to support Kyiv’s ongoing battle against Russia, especially as the country prepares for the incoming presidential administration of Donald Trump.
