Ukraine secures freedom for 189 in major prisoner exchange
Ukraine has carried out a prisoner exchange with Russia, recovering 189 soldiers, including the defenders of Azovstal and Snake Island, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported.
Ukraine successfully conducted a prisoner swap with Russia, resulting in the return of 189 soldiers. Among them were those who defended Azovstal and Snake Island. This news was shared by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who emphasised that it is a significant day for many Ukrainian families. The Russian side had previously reported an exchange involving 150 individuals each.
Exchange thanks to international support
President Zelensky highlighted that the exchange was made possible through the mediation of international partners, including the United Arab Emirates. Among those released were soldiers who defended the Chernobyl power plant and two civilians captured in Mariupol.
The Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for Prisoners of War reported that this was one of the largest exchanges since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022. Since then, 3,956 people have returned to their homeland, of which 1,358 returned this year.
Many of those released had been in Russian captivity for over two and a half years. The defenders suffer from chronic illnesses and serious wounds. The previous prisoner exchange took place on 18 October, when 95 individuals from each side were returned to their respective countries.
President Zelensky expressed joy at the return of the prisoners, highlighting that each one had a family waiting for them. "The return of our people from Russian captivity is always very good news for each of us. And today is one of such days: our team managed to bring 189 Ukrainians home," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. This information was reported by Sky News.
