Russia and Ukraine Swap 115 Prisoners Each in UAE-Mediated Exchange

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 115 prisoners each in a significant swap brokered by the UAE, marking a rare moment of cooperation amidst ongoing conflict.

Both Russia and Ukraine have confirmed the exchange of 115 prisoners of war from either side, which was mediated by the United Arab Emirates.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE announced that they had effectively facilitated an exchange between Russia and Ukraine resulting in 230 captives being released.

According to a statement released by the ministry, this marks the UAE’s seventh mediation attempt between these two countries in 2021.

Although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the return of 115 POWs from Russia, Russian authorities have confirmed that these individuals were actually its own servicemen who had been detained in Kursk during Ukraine’s ongoing incursion.

Despite the lack of peace talks between both sides since the early months of the conflict that began nearly two years ago, they have still executed intermittent prisoner exchanges through intermediaries.

This marked the initial exchange of this kind following Ukraine’s surprise border crossing into Kursk on August 6, which stunned Russia.

On January 3, the UAE mediated a resolution between warring countries that resulted in the exchange of 478 captives, marking one of the largest exchanges to date.

According to the UAE ministry, it has facilitated the exchange of a total of 1,788 captives.

Zelenskyy announced that those released comprised of individuals from the national guard, armed forces and navy of the country.

In a post on X, he stated “Our efforts are focused on finding and bringing back each individual. No one will be forgotten.”

According to Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, 82 individuals who had defended Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine during the year 2022 were among those who have now returned. The city was captured by Russia at that time.

As Ukraine marked its 33rd independence day from the Soviet Union amidst a prolonged conflict, news of the latest exchange was revealed.

According to Zelenskyy in his independence day video message, Russia had intentions of “destroying” Ukraine; however now the war has gone back to where it truly belongs.

Since the start of the war in 2022, Ukraine’s attack on Kursk stands out as a prominent cross-border offensive.

In spite of the invasion, Russia persists in making progress in eastern Ukraine.