Russia and Ukraine exchange 185 POWs each, UAE mediates

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 185 prisoners of war each, officials from both countries confirmed on Friday. The swap, mediated by the United Arab Emirates, also saw the return of one Ukrainian civilian from Russian captivity.

The exchange marks the second major transfer under a broader agreement to swap 1,000 prisoners from each side, a deal brokered by the United States earlier this year. The first phase of that agreement occurred on May 15, when each side returned 205 personnel.

According to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, more than half of the Ukrainian service members returned on Friday had been captured in 2022. Many were defenders of the city of Mariupol, including participants in the defense of the Azovstal steel plant. The group included members of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, National Guard, and State Border Guard Service, among other branches, with two officers among those released. Ukrainian officials stated the youngest returnee is 27 and the oldest is 62.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the exchange, thanking the teams involved and international partners. He emphasized that returning captured Ukrainians...