Moscow, June 27: Russia and Ukraine have conducted another prisoner exchange, with both sides releasing 160 captives each. This exchange took place on Friday, according to officials from both nations.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced that 160 Russian soldiers were returned from Ukrainian-held territories, while 160 Ukrainian prisoners were released in return.
According to the ministry, the returned Russian soldiers are currently receiving medical and psychological support in Belarus before being sent to Russia for further treatment and care.
As reported by the Xinhua news agency, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) played a crucial role in facilitating this humanitarian exchange.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the released Ukrainian soldiers had been imprisoned since 2022. He noted that the group included members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the State Special Transport Service, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service.
This exchange marks the 76th prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine since the onset of the war in 2022.
According to Russia’s state news agency TASS, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantrava met with her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmitry Lubinets, at the Belarus-Ukraine border to continue humanitarian discussions.
Earlier in June, another exchange involved 185 prisoners from each side, while in May, 205 captives were swapped. In February 2025, both countries exchanged 150 prisoners each.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated, “The UAE assisted in bringing back Russian soldiers through humanitarian mediation.”
Following direct talks in Istanbul on May 16, 2025, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a significant exchange of 1,000 prisoners each, marking the largest swap since the war began in 2022.
Similarly, in January 2024, both nations exchanged 195 soldiers, with the UAE again facilitating the process.
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