Ukraine has secured the release of 49 individuals held by Russia in a new prisoner exchange with Moscow, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday.
The exchange was facilitated with the mediation of the United Arab Emirates, according to a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency.
“Another return of our people—a constant goal of ours that we work tirelessly to achieve… We must bring all our people, both soldiers and civilians, back home,” President Zelenskyy posted on the social media platform X, while announcing the exchange of 56 individuals with Russia.
Mr. Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said on the Telegram platform that among the released Ukrainians were seven civilians as well as members of the armed forces, the National Guard, police, and border service.
Ukraine did not disclose how many Russian nationals were released. Moscow has yet to comment on the exchange.
Footage from an unidentified location, released by Ukraine, showed security personnel being welcomed with bouquets of flowers, hugs, and banners reading: “Thank you for staying.”
Kyiv and Moscow have frequently exchanged prisoners since Russia invaded Ukraine. Friday’s exchange is the second since Ukraine launched a cross-border attack in Russia’s Kursk region in early August.
Ukraine claims to have captured at least 600 Russian soldiers during this operation and aims to secure the return of Ukrainians held by Russian forces.
Mr. Yermak said that some of the released Ukrainians had been part of the forces defending Mariupol and the Azovstal steel plant in the southern port city, a site of intense fighting and now under Russian control.
Ukraine’s Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, stated that Ukraine has secured the return of 3,569 individuals held by Russia since the beginning of the war./VOA/
