Ukraine and Russia recently completed their first prisoner exchange in nearly five months, with over 200 individuals released by each side. Moscow attributes the success of this “complex negotiation” to the mediation efforts of the UAE.
Russia’s defense ministry reported the handover of 248 military personnel by Ukraine, while Kyiv brought home 230 individuals, marking one of the largest documented troop swaps. The POW coordination center in Ukraine acknowledged the UAE’s role in the exchange without providing specific details.
Despite ongoing conflict, both nations have engaged in numerous prisoner swaps since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, although the frequency has decreased in 2023, with the last exchange occurring in August.
