Russia, Ukraine Hold Largest Prisoner Swap Since August

Russia and Ukraine have executed their first prisoner exchange since August, marking what Kyiv called the largest exchange of prisoners since the start of the war.

Under the terms of the swap, arranged with “humanitarian mediation” by the United Arab Emirates, 248 Russian detainees were freed in exchange for 230 Ukrainian prisoners, including border guards and members of the military forces held captive by Russia.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky posted a message on his Telegram channel on Wednesday that included pictures of some of the freed prisoners of war and read, “230 of our people. Today, 213 soldiers and sergeants, 11 officers, and six civilians returned home.”

Some of the returned soldiers, according to Zelensky, "fought in Mariupol and Azovstal," referring to the steel plant's siege during Ukraine's defense of Mariupol, a port city in southern Ukraine that is currently under Russia’s control.

Dmytro Lubinets, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, emphasized that this exchange marked the 49th such arrangement between the warring parties. He also hinted at the possibility of another exchange in the coming weeks, indicating ongoing efforts to resolve the humanitarian aspects of the conflict.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported the return of 248 individuals. According to officials, Moscow received 75 prisoners in exchange for five Ukrainian defense officers from Azovstal who returned to Kyiv in July.

There have been a number of prisoner-swaps during the ongoing conflict, which entered its 23rd month. The most recent exchange occurred in early August.

Abu Dhabi, which maintains friendly relations with Moscow, assisted in mediating a delicate prisoner exchange involving dozens of prisoners of war on both sides between Russia and Ukraine last year.

The armed conflict began in 2022 when Russian troops entered Ukraine claiming to protect the people of two self-proclaimed separatist-controlled regions of Ukraine, who were allegedly under attack from the Ukrainian military.

The Russian offensive targeted the northern, eastern, and southern regions in an attempt to cripple the defense lines of the Ukrainian army. However, the Russian army’s blitzkrieg tactics were unsuccessful due to the resilient resistance of Ukraine’s military and civilians.