Ukraine announces return of 277 soldiers from Russian captivity
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday that Ukraine has recovered 277 prisoners of war from Russian captivity, while the Russian side describes the exchange as a 246 for 246 formula.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, reported on his Telegram channel the return of prisoners of war from Russian captivity. "Having our people back home is one of the best pieces of news possible. Another 277 soldiers have returned home from Russian captivity," emphasized the President of Ukraine.
Prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia: Zelensky confirms
Among the released are soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the State Service for Special Transport, and border guards. They defended Mariupol and other areas in the Donetsk region, as well as Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk.
Prisoner of war exchange
According to Zelensky, since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a total of 4,552 people have returned home, both soldiers and civilians. Previously, the Russian propaganda agency TASS reported on the prisoner exchange with Ukraine, citing a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense.
"Russia has recovered 246 soldiers from Ukrainian captivity, and in exchange, 246 prisoners of war from the Armed Forces of Ukraine were handed over," the statement reads.
Russian soldiers who returned from Ukrainian captivity are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving necessary medical assistance. They will then be transported to Russia for further treatment and rehabilitation.
The role of mediators
Representatives of the United Arab Emirates mediated the exchange process. The Russian Ministry of Defense added that it handed over 31 wounded Ukrainian prisoners of war in exchange for 15 wounded Russian soldiers, calling it a "gesture of goodwill."
