Russia and Ukraine exchange 103 soldiers under UAE deal

Russia said Saturday it has exchanged 103 captive Ukrainian soldiers for an equal number of Russian prisoners of war. in a swap deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates.

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The Russian troops released in Saturday’s exchange were captured during Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region that began on August 6, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

There was no immediate confirmation from Ukraine.

“As a result of the negotiation process, 103 Russian servicemen captured in the Kursk region were returned from the territory controlled by the kyiv regime,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.

“In exchange, 103 prisoners of war from the Ukrainian army were handed over.”

“Currently, all Russian servicemen are in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, where they are provided with the necessary psychological and medical assistance, as well as the opportunity to communicate with their families,” the ministry added.

Despite ongoing hostilities, Russia and Ukraine have managed to exchange hundreds of prisoners over the two and a half years of conflict, often in deals brokered by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia or Türkiye.

The announcement comes just three weeks after Russia and Ukraine They will exchange 115 prisoners of war each in an exchange agreement also mediated by the United Arab Emirates.

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