Russia and Ukraine exchange hundreds of prisoners of war

(Patria) - Ukraine and Russia exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war yesterday based on an agreement reached with the mediation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Ukrainian authorities announced that 230 Ukrainian prisoners of war returned home, reports RSE.

230 наших людей: 213 солдат і сержантів, 11 офіцерів, 6 цивільних – сьогодні повернулися додому. Дякую всім, хто дав цей результат!

Ми памʼятаємо про кожного й кожну. І маємо повернути всіх.

🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/Cvt9jC4gqD

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 3, 2024

The Russian Ministry of Defense, on the other hand, announced that 248 Russian soldiers were released from Ukrainian captivity.

The ministry added that the agreement was reached thanks to the mediation efforts of the UAE.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged its role, stating in a statement that the exchange was made possible thanks to "strong friendly relations" with both Moscow and Kyiv.

Despite all of the challenges, we have good news today. 230 freed people.

Initially, there was no information about some of them being held captive. They were considered missing in action. It is critical to keep hope alive.

Prisoner swaps have been on hold for a long time, but… pic.twitter.com/H8JB1H7Mkj

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 3, 2024

"I am grateful to everyone who achieved this result... We remember every one of our people. And we must bring them all back. Initially, there was no information about some of them being held captive.

They were considered missing in action. It is crucial to keep hope alive," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social network X.

He stated that although prisoner exchanges have been on hold for a long time, negotiations never stopped.

The mass prisoner exchange followed other similar agreements during the war, which is approaching its second anniversary.