Ukraine rejoices as 189 soldiers freed in major prisoner swap
Ukraine has conducted a prisoner exchange with Russia, regaining 189 soldiers, including the defenders of Azovstal and Snake Island, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported.
Ukraine carried out a prisoner exchange with Russia, resulting in 189 soldiers returning to the country. Among them were the defenders of Azovstal and Snake Island. President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted the significance of this event for many Ukrainian families. Earlier, the Russian side reported that the exchange was done in a format of 150 for 150.
Exchange made possible by international support
President Zelensky noted that international partners, including the United Arab Emirates, facilitated the exchange. Among those released were soldiers who defended the Chernobyl power plant and two civilians captured in Mariupol.
The Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for Prisoners of War reported that this was one of the largest exchanges since the onset of the Russian invasion in February 2022. Since then, 3,956 people have returned to Ukraine, with 1,358 returning this year.
Many of those released were held in Russian captivity for over two and a half years. The defenders suffer from chronic illnesses and severe wounds. The previous prisoner exchange took place on October 18, with 95 individuals from each side returning to their respective countries.
President Zelensky expressed his joy over the return of the prisoners, emphasizing that each had a family waiting for them. "The return of our people from Russian captivity is always very good news for each of us. And today is one of such days: our team managed to bring 189 Ukrainians home," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. This information was provided by the Sky News.
