Russia and Ukraine carried out a major prisoner exchange. According to a report by The Guardian on Monday, at least 150 individuals from both sides are returning home as the New Year approaches. The United Arab Emirates played a mediating role in facilitating part of this exchange.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Telegram, “The return of our people from Russian captivity is always very good news for each of us. And today is one of those days: our team managed to return 189 Ukrainians home.”
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that 150 prisoners were repatriated from each side. However, the number of repatriated prisoners was not explained.
A spokesperson for Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (KSHPPV) told The Guardian that those returning to Ukraine included eighty-seven army troops, forty-three National Guard members, thirty-three border guards, twenty-four naval personnel, and two civilians. Fourteen of these individuals were identified as officers.
KSHPPV revealed that the prisoners returned to Russia were captured during operations in the Kursk region. The Guardian reported that these operations involved Ukrainian forces occupying parts of Russian territory, with one objective being to secure prisoners as potential bargaining chips for future negotiations.
Some of the prisoners released by Russia on Monday had been in captivity since the initial invasion in February 2022.
This marks the eleventh prisoner exchange this year. Ukrainian officials stated that the total number of their personnel returned by Russia has now reached 1,358. They noted that many Ukrainian prisoners remain in Russian custody.
“We are working to free everyone from Russian captivity. This is our goal. We do not forget anyone. Thank you to the team doing everything to bring our people back and to all our partners, including the UAE, who are helping us,” Zelenskyy said.
Returning detainees reported enduring physical and psychological abuse during their imprisonment. They described being subjected to regular beatings, degrading strip searches, and threats of interrogation. Some prisoners were reportedly forced to sing the Russian national anthem or recite Russian poetry.
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