Kiev: Dozens of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have been freed following a latest prisoner swap, officials from both sides have confirmed.
Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, said in a Telegram post that 116 Ukrainians returned home, whereas Russia’s state news agency TASS said that 63 Russian servicemen were released, Xinhua news agency reported.
Yermak also said that Russia returned to Ukraine the bodies of two British voluntary aid workers, and a volunteer soldier from Ukraine’s International Legion.
The exchange came after a negotiation brokered by the United Arab Emirates, marking one of the largest prisoner swaps between the conflicting parties since the start of the conflict.
As of early January, more than 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers remained in Russia’s captivity.
(IANS)
