Russia and Ukraine Swap 25 Prisoners Each in UAE-Mediated Exchange Including Mariupol Defenders

Jan 15, 2025, 12:54 PM

Russia and Ukraine have conducted their first prisoner exchange of 2025, each releasing 25 individuals, according to statements from both countries' defense ministries. The exchange included military personnel and civilians, among them defenders of Mariupol and the Azovstal steel plant, as well as individuals from Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Kyiv regions. Among those freed was a civilian who had been detained in Kyiv. Some had been in captivity for a prolonged period, and many suffer from serious injuries or illnesses requiring medical care. The United Arab Emirates mediated the exchange, providing humanitarian support during the process.