Ukraine, Russia exchange prisoners in latest 185-185 swap mediated by UAE
Ukrainian servicemen returned home from Russian captivity on Friday as Kyiv and Moscow carried out a new prisoner exchange.
Footage released by Ukrainian authorities showed emotional scenes as freed soldiers arrived by bus at an undisclosed location, made phone calls to loved ones and embraced relatives after their release.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 185 military personnel and one civilian had been returned in the exchange. “Another 185 Ukrainian defenders are returning home from Russian captivity today. One civilian is also returning alongside the defenders,” Zelensky said in a statement.
He noted that some of the released prisoners had been held by Russia since 2022. “I thank everyone who makes this possible: the team working on prisoner exchanges and our partners,” he added.
Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed the swap, saying the returned Russian servicemen were in Belarus, where they were receiving medical and psychological support.
“After receiving the necessary psychological and medical assistance, the Russian servicemen will be transported to the Russian Federation for further treatment and rehabilitation,” the ministry said.
The United Arab Emirates helped facilitate the exchange through humanitarian mediation efforts, according to Russian authorities.
Prisoner swaps have remained one of the few areas of cooperation between Kyiv and Moscow since Russia launched its full-scale military offensive against Ukraine in February 2022.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
