On Saturday, Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange, releasing a total of 115 servicemen. The Ukrainian soldiers, many of whom were conscripts captured in the early stages of Russia's invasion, included nearly 50 soldiers taken prisoner from the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the 115 Russian soldiers had been captured in the Kursk region during Ukraine's recent offensive into Russia. The soldiers are currently in Belarus but will be transferred to Russia for medical treatment and rehabilitation.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the United Arab Emirates facilitated the exchange, marking the 55th such exchange since Russia's invasion in February 2022. Photos shared by Zelenskyy showed the released servicemen, visibly exhausted and wrapped in Ukrainian flags, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to bring all prisoners home.
