Russia and Ukraine agreed to swap hundreds of prisoners of war, the two sides announced Wednesday.
Ukrainian officials secured the release of 230 fighters, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in exchange for just shy of 250 Russian soldiers, according to Russian state media.
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“Today, 213 soldiers and sergeants, 11 officers, and 6 civilians returned home,” Zelensky said on social media. “I am grateful to everyone who achieved this result. We remember each and every one of our people. And we must return all of them.”
Comparatively, Russian Ministry of Defense officials said in a statement, “On January 3, 2024, as a result of a complicated negotiation process, 248 Russian servicemen were returned from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime. The return of the Russian servicemen from captivity was made possible thanks to the humanitarian mediation of the United Arab Emirates.”
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The two sides have agreed to various prisoner swaps as the war has progressed.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and Ukraine has largely fended off Russian aggression, though with significant help from its Western allies. Both sides have incurred overwhelming casualties, and the war is continuing into the winter months of 2024.