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Translated by: Flutura Gashi-Mehmeti
- December 30, 2024 16:07
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Russia and Ukraine have exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Monday.
In a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates, Russia has said it has exchanged 150 Ukrainian soldiers held captive for an equal number of Russian troops, the BBC reports.
The freed Russian troops are in Belarus, a Russian ally, and are being given medical aid and the opportunity to contact their families, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenksy, has said that 189 Ukrainians have returned home.
He added that those released included "defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol" and the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
Zelensky said two civilians captured in Mariupol were among dozens of soldiers, sergeants, border guards and officers released on Monday.
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Ukraine and Russia exchange 185 prisoners of war each
"We are working to free everyone from Russian captivity. This is our goal. We do not forget anyone," Zelensky said.
Prior to this exchange, there had been 10 prisoner exchanges between the countries this year.
