Russia, Ukraine exchange more than 300 prisoners brokered by UAE

(CLO) Russia and Ukraine have just carried out an exchange of more than 300 prisoners of war before the New Year, with the support of negotiations from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to announcements from both sides.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on December 30 that the country had returned 150 Ukrainian prisoners of war. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that 189 Ukrainian citizens had returned home. There has been no explanation for the difference in numbers announced by the two sides.

Ukrainian soldiers on their way back. Photo:Telegram/Volodymyr Zelenskyy

“The return of our compatriots from Russian captivity is always good news for all of us. Today, our team brought 189 Ukrainians home safely,” President Zelenskyy said on the Telegram app.

He also said that among those exchanged were two civilians captured in the port city of Mariupol in 2022. The president expressed gratitude to the UAE for its role in mediating the deal.

Photos released by the Ukrainian president showed dozens of people sitting on the bus, some wrapped in the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine. Meanwhile, a video released by Russia’s human rights commissioner, Tatyana Moskalkova, showed Russian soldiers gathered outside the bus in winter clothes and military uniforms.

Ms. Moskalkova thanked the soldiers for their patience and courage and wished them a happy new year. “Very soon, our soldiers will be reunited with their relatives and friends to celebrate the New Year in their homeland,” she wrote on Telegram.

The Russian Defense Ministry also announced that the liberated prisoners received medical and psychological support in Belarus, Moscow's key ally, before returning home.

Since the war began in February 2022, Russia and Ukraine have carried out about 60 prisoner exchanges. The most recent was in mid-October, when the two sides swapped 95 prisoners each.

According to Ukraine, Russia has released a total of 3,956 people, including soldiers and civilians, through agreements with Kiev. President Zelenskyy affirmed that efforts will continue to bring back all remaining prisoners. “We will not leave anyone behind. That is our goal, and my team is doing everything to bring our compatriots home.”

Cao Phong (according to TASS, Aljazeera, NYT)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nga-va-ukraine-trao-doi-hon-300-tu-binh-trong-thoa-thuan-do-uae-lam-trung-giang-post328311.html