Russia and Ukraine swap 115 prisoners amid war

Russia and Ukraine swap 115 prisoners amid war

Russia and Ukraine on Saturday exchanged 115 prisoners of war from each side after the United Arab Emirates acted as an intermediary.

It is the first such exchange since Ukraine launched a surprise attack into Russia’s Kursk region on Aug. 6, the biggest attack inside Russian territory by a foreign power since World War Two.

The Russians released on Saturday were captured in Kursk, Russian state news agencies reported, citing the country’s defence ministry.

The ministry said 115 soldiers were returned “from territories controlled by the Kyiv regime,” while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said “another 115 of our defenders have returned home today”.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian servicemen swapped were captured in the Kursk region.

All released Russian soldiers are now in Belarus and will receive medical treatment and rehabilitation upon their return to Russia. The ministry expressed gratitude for the UAE’s role in facilitating the prisoner swap.

President Zelensky said the returned Ukrainian soldiers were members of the National Guard, the Armed Forces, the Navy, and the Border Guard.

“We remember each and every one. We are searching for and making every effort to bring everyone back,” he said.

“This brings closer the release of our military, our civilians from Russian captivity. Thanks to our team and partners, the UAE for our people returning home,” he said.

Mr Zelensky said that in addition to capturing Russian soldiers, the Kursk operation had other goals he could not disclose.

He added Ukraine would do everything to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war through diplomacy.