Russia and Ukraine exchanged 246 prisoners of war each on Saturday, marking the largest swap since the war began over three years ago.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the returned Russian soldiers are currently receiving medical and psychological care in Belarus, after which they will be transferred to Russia for further treatment and rehabilitation.
Wounded Soldiers Exchanged as Gesture of Goodwill
In addition to the main exchange, both sides also traded wounded soldiers, with Ukraine releasing 15 Russian soldiers in return for 31 injured Ukrainian troops, in what was described as a gesture of goodwill.
UAE’s Key Mediation Role
The Russian ministry praised the mediation efforts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), acknowledging its crucial role in facilitating the exchange and expressing gratitude for the UAE’s significant humanitarian contribution, as reported by Anadolu Agency.
This exchange came shortly after a separate swap of fallen soldiers’ remains, during which Ukraine received the bodies of 909 soldiers from Russia. Russian media reported that 41 Russian soldiers’ bodies were recovered in return.
