In a deal mediated by the United Arab Emirates ahead of New Year’s Eve, Russia and Ukraine exchanged over 300 prisoners of war (POWs), according to officials from both nations.
On Monday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenksyy announced that 189 Ukrainians had returned home, while the Russian Ministry of Defence announced that it had exchanged 150 Ukrainian detainees. The disparity in the published numbers has no clear explanation.
“For all of us, the news of our people’s return from Russian captivity is always very positive. And today is one of such days: 189 Ukrainians were successfully brought home by our squad,” Zelenskyy wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
He hailed the UAE for its assistance in negotiating the exchange and stated it included two civilians who were captured in the southern coastal city of Mariupol in 2022. Zelenskyy shared images of scores of individuals seated in a bus, some of them wearing the blue and yellow flags of Ukraine.
Tatyana Moskalkova, Russia’s human rights commissioner, released a video of soldiers in winter clothing and military fatigues gathered outside buses. Wishing them a happy New Year’s holiday, Moskalkova added, “I thank you for your service, patience, and courage.” She wrote in a Telegram message that accompanied the video, “Very soon our guys will embrace their relatives and friends and celebrate the New Year in their native land.”
Before returning home, the released prisoners of war received medical and psychological support in Belarus, a crucial ally of Moscow, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.
Since the start of the war in February 2022, 60 separate prisoner swaps have taken place. The two nations exchanged 95 prisoners of war in the most recent exchange, which occurred in mid-October.
Ukraine reported Monday that Moscow has released 3,956 individuals, including civilians and troops, in agreements with Kyiv since the crisis began. Zelenskyy pledged to keep advocating for the release of the remaining prisoners of war.
“We are still fighting to release everyone who is being held captive by Russia. We shall not overlook anyone in pursuit of our objective. He wrote, “I express my gratitude to the team that is making every effort to bring our people home.”
As his government rushes to use all of the available funds to assist Kyiv in fending off Russia before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, US President Joe Biden announced Monday that the US will deliver roughly $2.5 billion extra in weapons to Ukraine.
