Russia and Ukraine announced the exchange of 95 Ukrainian prisoners of war for 95 Russian prisoners on Friday. The deal was facilitated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
"95 of our citizens have returned home. These are soldiers who defended Mariupol, Azovstal, and the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kiev, Chernihiv, and Kherson," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"Every time Ukraine rescues its citizens from Russian captivity, we bring closer the day when freedom will be restored to all those held captive in Russia," he added, thanking the team involved in the research and release of the prisoners.
"Thanks to this negotiation, 95 Russian soldiers have been freed," stated the Russian Ministry of Defence. "In exchange, 95 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been released."
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Both sides have exchanged hundreds of prisoners since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 through agreements brokered by the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
The last exchange, which took place last month, involved 206 prisoners from each side.
Earlier on Friday, Ukrainian authorities reported the recovery of the remains of 501 Ukrainian soldiers killed in combat, mostly in eastern Ukraine.
