MOSCOW: In a sign of cautious progress in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the two countries have exchanged around 100 soldiers each in their latest prisoner swap.
The swap marks the latest in a series of exchanges carried out periodically between the warring nations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago.
According to Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff to Ukraine’s president, the exchange involved military personnel, including sailors, border guards, and national guardsmen. He noted that some of those who returned were seriously injured and had held out in Mariupol, the devastated port city captured by Russia last spring.
In a post on Telegram, Yermak thanked officials for their efforts in making the difficult exchange possible, sharing a video of women in uniform being greeted with flowers.
For its part, Russia confirmed that it had returned 106 of its servicemen in exchange. The Russian defense ministry said that negotiations had led to the release of soldiers from territories under Kyiv’s control.
Those freed would be flown to Moscow for treatment and rehabilitation, it said, adding that all would receive necessary medical and psychological assistance.
Previous prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine
The previous Russian-Ukrainian prisoner exchange was carried out in March when 130 Ukrainians were swapped for 90 Russian servicemen.
The latest prisoner exchange comes amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, which have escalated in recent months. In February, Ukraine accused Russia of massing troops along its border, sparking fears of renewed hostilities.
Though the situation has since de-escalated somewhat, with Russia pulling back some of its troops, tensions remain high.
Despite this, there have been some signs of progress in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. In March, the leaders of Ukraine and Russia held their first talks in over three years, though little concrete progress was made.
The latest prisoner swap may be seen as a small step towards easing tensions and rebuilding trust between the two nations.
