Russia, Ukraine swap 206 POWs in UAE-brokered deal

Ukrainian servicemen of the 12th Special Forces Brigade “Azov” of the National Guard of Ukraine embrace fellow soldiers after being released from Russian captivity at an undisclosed location near the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, on September 13, 2024, amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. 49 Ukrainian prisoners of war, including soldiers of the armed forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the national police, the state border guard service, as well as fighters from Mariupol’s 2022 Azvostal battle, had been returned to their country from Russia on September 13, 2024. (AFP)

MOSCOW – Russia said Saturday it swapped 103 Ukrainian soldiers held captive for an equal number of Russian POWs in an exchange deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates.

The Russian troops freed in Saturday’s swap were captured during Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region, which began on 6 August, according to the Russian defence ministry.

There was no immediate confirmation from the Ukrainian side.

“As a result of the negotiation process, 103 Russian servicemen captured in the Kursk region were returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime,” the Russian defence ministry said.

“In return, 103 Ukrainian army prisoners of war were handed over.”

“At present, all Russian servicemen are on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, where they are being provided with the necessary psychological and medical assistance, as well as an opportunity to contact their relatives,” the ministry added.

Despite ongoing hostilities, Russia and Ukraine have managed to swap hundreds of prisoners throughout the two-and-half-year conflict, often in deals brokered by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia or Turkey.

The announcement comes just three weeks after Russia and Ukraine swapped 115 prisoners of war each in an exchange deal also mediated by the UAE.