In a significant development amidst the ongoing conflict, Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 115 prisoners of war each. This exchange took place on August 24th, Ukrainian Independence Day, and was facilitated by the United Arab Emirates. Both countries have expressed gratitude to the UAE for its role in mediating the deal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the return of the Ukrainian soldiers on X (formerly Twitter), stating that they were from various branches of the military, including the National Guard, Armed Forces, Navy, and State Border Guard Service. He emphasized the importance of bringing back all Ukrainian prisoners and thanked the UAE for their efforts.
The prisoner swap comes at a time of heightened tensions in the conflict. Kyiv recently launched an offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, claiming to have captured hundreds of Russian soldiers. Moscow confirmed the exchange, stating that the 115 soldiers returned were those captured in Kursk. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the troops are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving psychological and medical support and will soon be transported back to Russia.
Throughout the more than two-year-long war, Kyiv and Moscow have engaged in several rounds of prisoner exchanges. This recent exchange underscores the ongoing efforts to de-escalate the conflict and secure the release of captured personnel.
