Under the mediation of the United Arab Emirates, on Monday (December 30), Russia and Ukraine conducted the latest prisoner exchange. The Russian side announced the release of 150 people, while the Ukrainian side announced the release of 189 people.
According to Reuters, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that on Monday, Russia and Ukraine carried out a prisoner exchange, with each side releasing 150 prisoners.
The statement mentioned that Russian prisoners were released on Belarusian territory and they will be transferred to Russia.
A video released by the department showed some Russian soldiers boarding a bus. According to the accompanying statement, they will all receive treatment and rehabilitation in Belarus.
The statement added that the United Arab Emirates acted as the mediator for this exchange operation.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on social media that 189 Ukrainians would be returning home.
In his post, Zelenskyy said: “Those who defended Azovstal, Mariupol, the Chornobyl NPP, and Zmiinyi Island, as well as our military personnel from various frontlines, and two civilians taken captive in Mariupol, 189 Ukrainians went home. 189 families are reunited once again.”
Zelenskyy also expressed gratitude to the partners who helped facilitate this exchange.
Furthermore, Zelenskyy released a video on X platform showing the released individuals travelling back to Ukraine. Some footage depicted Ukrainian prisoners reuniting with their families excitedly or talking on the phone.
It is currently unclear why there are discrepancies in the number of released prisoners announced by both Russia and Ukraine.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia and Ukraine have conducted numerous prisoner exchanges.