Ukraine and Russia have completed their 54th prisoner of war exchange since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The recent swap involved 95 prisoners from each side, as confirmed by officials from both countries. The exchange, facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, took place following extensive preparation and diplomacy efforts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared images of the released servicemen, many of whom had been held captive for over two years. The prisoners, including civilians and military personnel, were captured during various conflicts in regions such as Mariupol and Luhansk.
The Coordination Headquarters for Prisoners of War in Ukraine reported that over 3,400 individuals have been repatriated from Russian captivity since the onset of the war. The Russian Defense Ministry announced that the freed Russian soldiers would be transported to Moscow for medical treatment and rehabilitation.
While the United Nations has raised concerns about the treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war, citing instances of medical neglect, mistreatment, and torture, both countries continue to engage in periodic exchanges to repatriate their captured personnel. The recent swap follows a larger-scale exchange of hundreds of prisoners that took place in January.
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