Russia and Ukraine exchange 95 prisoners in a deal brokered by the UAE. Discover the details and implications of this significant diplomatic effort.
On Wednesday, officials from both Ukraine and Russia reported that they had mutually exchanged 95 prisoners as per an agreement mediated by the United Arab Emirates.
The 54th prison exchange took place in February 2022 and the most recent one occurred three weeks before this swap.
For the sixth time this year, the U.A.E. facilitated the exchange.
In a Telegram message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky verified the participation of the Gulf state and announced that 95 members of their defense forces were “released from Russian imprisonment.”
The U.A.E. received thanks from the Russian Defence Ministry for its role in mediating.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Ukrainian officials have reported that more than 3,400 individuals – including both civilians and military personnel – have been released from Russian captivity.
The United Nations reports that while detained, the majority of Ukrainian prisoners endure regular medical neglect and are subjected to harsh and organized mistreatment, including torture.
Occasional instances of mistreatment towards Russian soldiers have been reported, typically occurring when they are captured or being transported to internment facilities.
Moscow will receive the released Russian soldiers who require medical treatment and rehabilitation as conveyed by the Defense Ministry of Russia.
