UAE mediates exchange of 300 prisoners between Russia, Ukraine

Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday carried out an exchange of a total of 300 prisoners of war amid the ongoing crises between the two countries. The prisoner exchange deal was brokered by the United Arab Emirates, which has facilitated numerous other prisoner exchanges. 

According to a statement by UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the swap included 150 prisoners from Ukraine and 150 from Russia. The ministry added that with this latest effort, the country has helped in the exchange of 2,883 prisoners between the two countries so far. The UAE has facilitated a total of 12 successful mediations between Russia and Ukraine since the beginning of 2024, the statement added. 

The ministry further affirmed the UAE’s commitment to supporting all diplomatic efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, while overcoming the humanitarian consequences of the crisis, including the plight of refugees and prisoners.  

The Russian Defense Ministry also issued a statement to confirm the prisoner exchange. “On February 5, as a result of the negotiation process, 150 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime. In exchange, 150 prisoners of war from the armed forces of Ukraine were released,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry added that all returning Russian servicemen are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving psychological and medical assistance. “All released servicemen will be transported to the Russian Federation for further treatment and rehabilitation in medical institutions of the Russian Ministry of Defense,” the statement added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also issued a statement, confirming the prisoner exchange in a Telegram post.

“Today is a good day for all of us. We are bringing home 150 of our defenders from Russian captivity — soldiers, sergeants, and officers. Among them are naval forces personnel captured in Mariupol and the Zaporizhzhia region, as well as members of the Air Force, Air Assault and Ground Forces, National Guard, border guards, territorial defense fighters, and a police officer. They come from different frontlines, but they share one thing in common: they fought for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in the statement.