Russia and Ukraine have released 190 detained soldiers as part of their latest prisoner exchange, officials in Moscow and Kyiv announced on Wednesday.
Thousands of POWs have been released in over 50 individual swaps during the war, and the two sides have reached unusual accords since Russia invaded in February 2022.
On Wednesday, both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia’s defense ministry announced the release of 95 servicemen.
“We continue to bring our people home. Another 95 defenders have been released from Russian captivity,” Zelensky said in a post on Telegram.
He said the exchange was mediated by the United Arab Emirates.
“As a result of a negotiation process, 95 Russian servicemen… have been returned,” Russia’s defence ministry said on Telegram.
The ministry released video footage of the liberated Russian soldiers laughing and chanting “Glory to Russia” as they were taken by bus to an undisclosed location.
Tatyana Moskalkova, the Russian Human Rights Commissioner, uploaded a video in which the soldiers, who were interviewed by Russian officials, stated that they were in good condition and had no complaints.
In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that 1,348 Russian servicemen were in Ukrainian custody, and that Russia had arrested 6,465 Ukrainian POWs.
Exchanges have occurred intermittently during the battle.
Moskalkova said her office spoke with a counterpart from Ukraine at the exchange, marking a rare occurrence of direct contacts between Moscow and Kyiv officials.
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, told AFP that the first such meeting took place at an exchange in June.
Moskalkova stated that the authorities addressed “joint humanitarian actions, including family reunification.”
Kyiv accuses Russia of forcefully deporting thousands of Ukrainian youngsters from areas under its control, and is seeking to ensure their return.
Moscow says children were moved for their own protection.
Several have been returned, including through deals brokered by Qatar.