Russia and Ukraine Exchange Hundreds of Prisoners in UAE-Brokered Deal.

Tatyana Moskalkova stated that she spoke with Russian prisoners of war who were freed in the exchange. Courtesy image.

In a significant development, Russia and Ukraine have carried out a major prisoner exchange involving hundreds of soldiers. The deal, brokered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marks a rare moment of agreement amidst the ongoing conflict.

The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed that 150 Ukrainian soldiers were swapped for an equal number of Russian troops. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported a slightly higher number of returns, announcing that 189 Ukrainians had been brought back home.

Among the released were individuals who had defended key sites during the war, including the Azovstal steel plant, the city of Mariupol, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and Snake Island.

The return of Ukrainian prisoners was met with emotional scenes as families reunited at a location in northern Ukraine. Alina, whose husband Oleksandr was captured while defending Mariupol in 2022, tearfully awaited his arrival. “I have so many emotions,” she said. “It’s been so difficult. I just want to see him.”

Anatoliy, another freed Ukrainian soldier captured in Mariupol, expressed his gratitude and resolve. “Thank God this day has come. We’re home. Now we’re going to support Ukraine with everything we’ve got,” he said. Ihor, another released soldier, described his overwhelming joy, stating, “I’m very happy to return to my own country, to my own land. I have no words to say what I feel now.”

On the Russian side, the Ministry of Defence reported that their troops had been transported to Belarus, where they were receiving medical care and reconnecting with their families.

A video shared by Russian human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova showed soldiers in military and winter clothing gathered near buses. In her statement, she noted, “Very soon our guys will hug their families and friends and celebrate the New Year on their native land.”

This prisoner exchange reflects a humanitarian effort in the midst of ongoing hostilities. It serves as a reminder of the personal toll the conflict has taken on countless families and soldiers on both sides.

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