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On Wednesday, January 3, Ukraine and Russia conducted the first prisoner exchange in nearly five months. The Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine handed over 248 soldiers and Ukraine brought home 230. This is the largest documented troop exchange to date that took place as part of complex negotiations mediated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Reuters.
The UAE Foreign Ministry acknowledged its role in maintaining “close friendly relations” with the two countries and expressed its determination to continue humanitarian efforts and seek a peaceful solution to the long-running conflict.
In the video released by the Ukrainian authorities, the returned prisoners, draped in the national flag, sing the national anthem and shout “Glory to Ukraine!” Most, but not all, appeared to be in good health.
230 of our people. Today 213 soldiers and non-commissioned officers, 11 officers and 6 civilians returned home. I am grateful to everyone who achieved this result.
We remember each and every one of our people. And we have to give them all back.
🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/RCeYnLYPn4
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Volodymyr Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa) January 3, 2024
The Russian Defense Ministry also released a video showing prisoners being bused to Belgorod. In the video, an unnamed man expressed his joy that he would be home in about five hours.
Although there have been no peace talks to end the 22-month war, the two countries have conducted numerous prisoner exchanges since the first months of the Russian invasion in February 2022. However, the number of exchanges declined in 2023, and the last exchange before this week reportedly took place in August Reuters.
Kirill Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency HUR, acknowledged the UAE’s “direct role” in facilitating the complex prisoner exchange.
President Zelensky said the day was “really great for Ukraine” and vowed to continue exchange operations by expanding the “exchange fund” for captured Russian soldiers, stressing that the effectiveness of the talks depends on the number of captured Russian soldiers. He said some of the returned soldiers were previously considered missing.
Among the returning Ukrainian soldiers were those who took part Azov Valley to defend the steelworks in Mariupol.
On the Russian side, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova thanked President Putin, the military and the secret services for their work.
Also read: Russia admits indiscriminate shelling of its territory
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