Russia and Ukraine have conducted a much-anticipated prisoner swap just ahead of the new year.
Moscow’s defense ministry announced that each side freed 150 prisoners of war on Monday, although Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that 189 of Kyiv’s soldiers had been brought home.
The discrepancy in the numbers reported remains unclear, but Ukrainian officials noted it was one of the largest prisoner exchanges since the full-scale war began in 2022.
Both sides confirmed that the United Arab Emirates acted as a mediator in the exchange.
The Russian captives were released on Belarusian territory and are being transferred to Russia.
In a statement on Telegram, President Zelensky thanked the UAE and other partners for facilitating the swap.
“The return of our people from Russian captivity is always very good news for each of us.
And today is one of such days: our team managed to bring 189 Ukrainians home,” Zelensky said.
The returning Ukrainians included soldiers, sergeants, and officers from various frontline areas, as well as two civilians captured in Mariupol in 2022.
Some of the soldiers had defended the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and Snake Island.
Pictures shared by Zelensky showed dozens of men sitting in a bus, some wrapped in Ukraine’s national blue and yellow flags
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“Everyone has relatives and friends waiting for them at home. And it is a joy that we managed to return them.
Today, another 189 families are happy,” the Ukrainian president added.
There have been only 10 other prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine this year, the lowest number since the full-scale invasion began.
The last swap occurred in mid-October, with each side bringing back 95 prisoners.
Earlier this month, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated he approached both Russia and Ukraine regarding a Christmas truce.
He proposed a prisoner exchange, but Kyiv ultimately rejected the idea, marking another setback in efforts for peace.
Ukraine’s Presidential Office stated discussions are ongoing regarding a significant prisoner swap by year-end.
However, they denied any communications with Hungary about it.
