In a significant development mediated by the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Ukraine have exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war. The Russian defense ministry announced the release of 150 Ukrainian soldiers in exchange for an equal number of Russian servicemen.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that 189 Ukrainians were repatriated, including those who defended key sites like Azovstal and Mariupol, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and Snake Island.
In northern Ukraine, scenes of emotional reunions unfolded outside a hospital where relatives, bundled up against the harsh winter, awaited their loved ones. Alina, one such relative, shared her overwhelming emotions as she waited for her husband Oleksandr, who was captured during the defense of Mariupol in 2022.
On the other side, the Russian defense ministry reported that the Russian POWs were now in Belarus, receiving medical care and the opportunity to reconnect with their families. A video shared by Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova showed the soldiers, dressed in winter gear, preparing to return home for the New Year.
This exchange marks the 59th since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began and is among the largest to date. The Ukrainian forces released included various branches of service like soldiers, border guards, National Guardsmen, and Navy personnel. Many of these individuals had endured captivity for over two and a half years, returning with various health complications due to their conditions while imprisoned.
Despite the joy of reunions, the exchange also highlighted the ongoing plight of thousands of Ukrainian POWs still held in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories. Ukrainian officials have noted that negotiating these swaps has become increasingly complex, particularly as Russian forces have made territorial gains.
Denys Prokopenko, the commander of Ukraine’s 12th Special Forces Azov Brigade, celebrated the return of 11 of his brigade members via a post on X. While the exact number of Ukrainian POWs held by Russia remains undisclosed, it’s estimated to exceed 8,000, illustrating the scale of the humanitarian crisis intertwined with the conflict.
