Tons of of troopers launched in new prisoner trade between Russia and Ukraine

Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of conflict within the newest such deal that noticed the discharge of lots of of captives and was negotiated with assist from the United Arab Emirates, officers mentioned.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned 189 Ukrainian prisoners, together with navy personnel, border guards and nationwide guards, in addition to two civilians, had been launched. He thanked the UAE for serving to negotiate the swap.

The Russian Protection Ministry mentioned 150 Russian troopers had been launched from captivity in an trade by which all sides freed 150 individuals.

The explanation for the discrepancy within the figures was not instantly clear.

“We’re working to free everybody from Russian captivity,” Mr. Zelensky mentioned in a press release. “We don’t overlook anybody.”

He posted images of Ukrainian troopers sitting on a bus, some waving the nation’s blue and yellow flags.

Mr Zelensky mentioned these free of Russian captivity included defenders of Snake Island, off the Black Sea port of Odessa, which was seized by Russia within the first days of its invasion , in addition to troops who defended town of Mariupol, which was captured. by Moscow forces at first of the conflict after a siege of virtually three months.

The return of our individuals from Russian captivity is at all times excellent information for all of us. Right now is a kind of days: our staff managed to deliver residence 189 Ukrainians.

These are troopers: defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol, the Chernobyl nuclear energy plant, the island of Zmiinyi, and… pic.twitter.com/9z7WLIh5Iu

– Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Volodymyr Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa) December 30, 2024

“The return of our individuals from Russian captivity is at all times excellent information for every of us,” Mr. Zelensky mentioned. “And right now is a kind of days: our staff managed to repatriate 189 Ukrainians residence. »

In Moscow, the Protection Ministry mentioned the Russian servicemen had been first taken to the territory of Belarus, Russia’s neighbor and ally, the place they acquired “psychological and medical help” earlier than settling down. in Russia.

Russia and Ukraine have carried out dozens of such prisoner exchanges in the course of the practically three-year conflict.

The prisoner swap got here as US President Joe Biden introduced on Monday that the USA would ship virtually $2.5 billion (£1.9 billion) extra weapons to Ukraine, as his administration shortly strikes to spend no matter cash it has to assist kyiv combat. Russia earlier than President-elect Donald Trump took workplace.