Russia and Ukraine announced Saturday they had exchanged 115 prisoners of war each, just over two weeks after Kyiv launched a surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.
The exchange came as Kyiv mounted its offensive in Kursk and as Russia eyes more east Ukrainian towns. It also came on Ukrainian Independence Day.
Both countries thanked the United Arab Emirates, who said it mediated the swap deal.
“Another 115 of our defenders have returned home today. These are soldiers of the National Guard, the Armed Forces, the Navy, the State Border Guard Service,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
He published photographs of men wrapped in Ukrainian flags.
Kyiv had said it had taken hundreds of Russian soldiers captive in its Kursk incursion launched on Aug. 6.
Moscow confirmed the exchange and said it had returned 115 soldiers taken captive in Kursk.
“As a result of a negotiation process, 115 Russian servicemen taken prisoner in the Kursk region have been returned from territories controlled by the Kyiv regime,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The ministry said the troops were currently in neighboring Belarus, where they are receiving “psychological-medical help” and will be brought to Russia soon.
It released images of the men near buses in a field.
The United Arab Emirates said it had “successfully mediated a new captives exchange between the Russian Federation and the republic of Ukraine.”
Kyiv and Moscow have held rounds of prisoner exchanges throughout the more than two-year war.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has designated The Moscow Times as an “undesirable” organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a “foreign agent.”
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work “discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership.” We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It’s quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you’re defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Continue
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.
×
Remind me next month
Thank you! Your reminder is set.
