Russia, Ukraine exchange 190 prisoners under UAE mediation
Last Updated on October 22, 2024 5:27 am
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 190 prisoners of war under the mediation of the United Arab Emirates. The two countries released 95 prisoners separately on Friday. This is the 58th prisoner exchange between the two sides in the two-and-a-half-year war. It has been held nine times under UAE mediation alone.
Al Jazeera reported this in a report on Saturday (October 20).
The Russian Defense Ministry said that the released soldiers are in Belarus and are being provided with the necessary psychological and medical support.
A Russian military video shows smiling soldiers boarding a bus.
A video posted on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Telegram account shows some, wrapped in Ukrainian flags, getting off the bus and hugging loved ones.
“Every time Ukraine frees its people from Russian captivity, we are closer to the day when freedom will return to all those held captive by Russia,” Zelensky wrote.
The UAE’s foreign ministry described the exchange as “a reflection of the cooperation and friendly relations between the Emirates and Russia-Ukraine.” It was the ninth such exchange between Moscow and Kiev.