Moscow and Kyiv carried out a major prisoner exchange on Monday, marking the 10th such swap this year. Around 300 captives were exchanged in a deal facilitated by the United Arab Emirates.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the event, saying, “The return of our people from Russian captivity is always very good news for all of us.” Ukraine regained 189 of its nationals, including soldiers, officers, and two civilians captured in Mariupol, according to Zelenskyy. Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry reported that 150 Russians were freed and transported to Belarus for medical evaluations and family contact.
The exchange had been anticipated as a potential New Year’s gesture, a Ukrainian official revealed last week. While it remains unclear how many Ukrainians are still detained in Russia, estimates suggest the number could be as high as 8,000.
