Russia and Ukraine have carried out a prisoner exchange, with each side releasing 115 prisoners of war. This was confirmed by both countries while the United Arab Emirates (UAE) acted as a mediator. The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Saturday that they “successfully mediated a new exchange of prisoners between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Ukraine, resulting in the release of 230 prisoners.” This was the seventh mediation effort by the UAE this year between the two nations, according to the ministry’s statement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that 115 Ukrainian prisoners were returned from Russia, while Russia also confirmed the release of 115 of its soldiers, who had been captured in the Kursk region during Ukraine’s ongoing offensive. Since the war began nearly two years ago, both sides have conducted periodic prisoner exchanges through mediators, despite the absence of peace negotiations since the early months of the conflict.
The latest exchange took place after Ukraine surprised Russia by crossing the border into Kursk on August 6. One of the largest exchanges occurred on January 3, when the warring nations swapped a total of 478 prisoners, facilitated by UAE mediation. The UAE ministry stated that the total number of prisoners exchanged through their mediation efforts now stands at 1,788.
Zelenskyy noted that the released individuals included members of the country’s National Guard, armed forces, and navy. “We all remember,” he said in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). “We are searching for them and doing everything to bring them all back.” Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s Commissioner for Human Rights, reported that 82 of the returning Ukrainians had defended the southeastern coastal city of Mariupol in 2022, which came under Russian control.
The latest exchange was announced as Ukraine celebrated its 33rd Independence Day from the Soviet Union amidst the ongoing conflict. In a video address for Independence Day, Zelenskyy stated that Russia aimed to “destroy” Ukraine but that the war has “come home.” Ukraine’s offensive in Kursk represents one of the most significant cross-border attacks since the war began in 2022. Despite this offensive, Russia continues to make advances in eastern Ukraine.