Official announcements from either the Russian or Ukrainian governments or verified news agencies

Russia and Ukraine Exchange 95 Prisoners Each, Including Mariupol and Azovstal Defenders, in UAE-Mediated Swap

Oct 18, 2024, 09:51 PM

Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange on Friday, each side releasing 95 prisoners of war, in an agreement mediated by the United Arab Emirates. Among the Ukrainian soldiers repatriated are defenders of Mariupol and the Azovstal steel plant, including 34 members of the Azov regiment. The group also includes 69 soldiers and sergeants and 26 officers, some of whom had received long sentences, including life imprisonment, from Russian courts. This marks the 58th prisoner swap between the two nations and the first major exchange in over a month. Many of the returning Ukrainian soldiers had been held captive since the onset of the full-scale war and are reported to be suffering from injuries and the effects of prolonged captivity. The Russian soldiers released are expected to return to Russia for treatment and rehabilitation.