Russia and Ukraine alternate tons of of prisoners of warfare

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged tons of of prisoners of warfare in a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Russian Protection Ministry mentioned it had exchanged 150 Ukrainian troopers held captive for an equal variety of Russian troops.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy mentioned 189 Ukrainians had returned dwelling.

He added that amongst these launched have been “the defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol”, the Chernobyl nuclear energy plant and Snake Island.

The BBC was readily available because the freed Ukrainians reunited with their family members in a location in northern Ukraine.

Earlier than their arrival, Alina, who was ready for her husband Oleksandr – captured whereas defending the southeastern metropolis of Mariupol in 2022 – had tears in her eyes.

“I’ve so many feelings,” she mentioned. “It has been so onerous. I simply need to see him.”

Freed prisoner Anatoliy, captured within the southeastern metropolis of Mariupol, informed the BBC he was “overwhelmed with emotions”.

“Thank God today has come. We’re dwelling. Now we are going to help Ukraine with all the pieces we have now,” he mentioned.

One other launched prisoner, Igor, informed the BBC: “I’m very blissful to return to my very own nation, to my very own land. I’ve no phrases to precise how I really feel now.”

The Russian Protection Ministry, in the meantime, mentioned just lately launched Russian troops have been in Belarus and receiving medical help and the chance to contact their households.

In a video launched by Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatiana Moskalkova, troopers have been seen gathering in entrance of buses in navy and winter gear.

“Very quickly our guys will hug their households and associates and have a good time the New 12 months of their fatherland,” she mentioned in an accompanying message.

That is the 59th prisoner alternate for the reason that begin of the large-scale invasion and one of many largest to date.

On the Ukrainian facet, these launched included troopers, border guards, members of the Nationwide Guard and Navy personnel. Many had been in captivity for greater than two and a half years, and Ukrainian authorities mentioned some had returned significantly in poor health and injured.

For some households, the agonizing uncertainty has ended. However 1000’s of Ukrainians stay in captivity in Russia and occupied areas of Ukraine.

Officers in kyiv informed the BBC that negotiations over prisoner exchanges have change into harder in latest months – since Russian forces started making important progress on the battlefield.

Ukraine doesn’t publish the variety of prisoners of warfare held by Russia, however the complete quantity is believed to be greater than 8,000.

Denys Prokopenko, commander of the twelfth Azov Brigade of the Ukrainian particular forces which defended the Azovstal metal plant in Mariupol earlier than it was captured by Russian forces, mentioned on X that 11 of the brigade’s males have been despatched again in the course of the alternate.

Prokopenko was launched in a prisoner alternate in 2022.

Zelensky mentioned two civilians captured in Mariupol have been additionally amongst these launched.

“We’re working to free everybody from Russian captivity. That is our purpose. We aren’t forgetting anybody,” Zelensky mentioned. He posted pictures displaying a number of the exchanged males sitting on a bus waving yellow and blue Ukrainian flags.

In Might 2022, Russia declared victory after months of battle to overcome the nation. Mariupol, port city in southeastern Ukrainethe final fighters defending the Azovstal steelworks having surrendered.

Russian troops seized Chernobyl, within the northwest of the nation, at the beginning of their invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, however later returned management of the plant to its workers.

Snake Island in the Black Sea was also seized in 2022 and Ukrainian troopers have been taken prisoner, then exchanged for Russian captives.