Russia and Ukraine have carried out a much-anticipated prisoner swap simply forward of the brand new yr.
Moscow’s defence ministry stated both sides freed 150 prisoners of warfare in a swap on Monday, though Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated 189 of Kyiv’s troopers had been introduced dwelling.
It is not instantly clear why there’s a discrepancy within the numbers reported, however Ukrainian officers stated it was one of many largest prisoner exchanges because the full-scale warfare started in 2022.
Either side stated the United Arab Emirates had acted as a mediator.
The Russian captives have been launched on Belarusian territory and are being transferred to Russia, the defence ministry stated.
In a press release on Telegram, Mr Zelenskyy thanked the UAE and different companions for facilitating the swap.
The returning Ukrainians included troopers, sergeants and officers from completely different frontline areas, in addition to two civilians who have been captured within the southern port of Mariupol in 2022.
Picture:
A number of the freed prisoners carried Ukrainian flags. Pic: Ukrainian president’s workplace/Telegram
A number of the troopers had defended the Azovstal metal plant in Mariupol, the Chernobyl nuclear energy plant and the Snake Island.
Photos shared by Mr Zelenskyy confirmed dozens of males sitting in a bus, a few of them wrapped in Ukraine’s nationwide blue and yellow flags.
“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 solely 10 different prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine this yr, the bottom quantity because the full-scale invasion started.
The final swap was in mid-October, with both sides bringing again 95 prisoners.
Earlier this month, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed he had approached each Russia and Ukraine with a proposal of a Christmas truce and a prisoner change however that Kyiv rejected this.
Ukraine’s Presidential Workplace stated a serious prisoner swap by the tip of the yr was being mentioned, though it denied any contact with Hungary on the matter.
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