Russia and Ukraine exchange hundreds of POWs

(Patria) - Russia and Ukraine have exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war under an agreement mediated by the United Arab Emirates, the BBC reports.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it exchanged 150 captured Ukrainian soldiers for an equal number of Russian soldiers.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 189 prisoners returned home. He added that among those released were fighters from Azovstal and Mariupol, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and Snake Island.

Those who defended Azovstal and Mariupol, the Chornobyl NPP, Zmiinyi Island, and our servicemen from various frontline directions. And two civilians who were captured by the Russians in Mariupol.

189 Ukrainians are back home. 189 families are happy again.

I am grateful to our… pic.twitter.com/O4cya3zhZP

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 30, 2024

The Russian Ministry of Defense, meanwhile, said that the released Russian soldiers are in Belarus and are receiving medical assistance and the opportunity to contact their families.

This is the 59th exchange since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, and it is one of the largest to date, the BBC emphasizes.

Ukraine does not publish the number of prisoners captured by Russia, but it is believed to be over 8,000.

Zelenskyy stated that two civilians captured in Mariupol were among the dozens of soldiers and officers released yesterday.

"We are working to free everyone from Russian captivity. That is our goal. We do not forget anyone," Zelenskyy said.

He published photos of several exchanged men on a bus with yellow and blue Ukrainian flags.

The return of our people from Russian captivity is always very good news for all of us. Today is one of those days – our team has managed to bring 189 Ukrainians back home.

These are military personnel: defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol, Chornobyl NPP, Zmiinyi Island, and… pic.twitter.com/9z7WLIh5Iu

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 30, 2024

In May 2022, Russia declared victory after a months-long battle to capture the southeastern port city of Mariupol, and the last fighters defending the Azovstal steel plant surrendered.

The Russian army occupied Chernobyl in the northwest of the country at the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but later handed over control of the plant to its employees.

Snake Island in the Black Sea was also occupied in 2022, and Ukrainian soldiers were taken prisoner, but were later exchanged for Russian prisoners.