Sharjah 24 - Reuters: Ukraine has achieved the release of 49 prisoners of war from Russian captivity, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Friday. This latest prisoner swap, the 56th since Russia's invasion in 2022, was mediated by the United Arab Emirates, according to a spokesperson for Ukraine's military intelligence agency.
Zelenskiy highlighted the significance of the exchange on X, stating, “Another return of our people—something we always wait for and work tirelessly to achieve. We must bring every single one of our people, both military and civilian, home.”
Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy's chief of staff, reported on Telegram that the released Ukrainians included seven civilians as well as military, national guard, police, and border guard personnel. The number of Russians released in the swap has not been disclosed, and Moscow has yet to comment.
Footage from Ukraine showed released service members being welcomed with flowers and hugs, and holding leaflets reading: "Thank you for enduring it all." One prisoner was seen weeping while holding the leaflet to his heart.
The swap comes as part of ongoing prisoner exchanges between Kyiv and Moscow, with the latest being the second since Ukraine's recent incursion into Russia's Kursk region. Ukraine claimed to have captured at least 600 Russian soldiers during this operation, which may facilitate future exchanges.
Yermak noted that some of the released Ukrainians had defended Mariupol and the Azovstal steel plant, which was heavily besieged and is now under Russian control.
Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets stated that Ukraine has now secured the return of 3,569 individuals from Russian captivity since the beginning of the invasion.
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