The Russian Federation and Ukraine might conduct another prisoner swap with assistance from the United Arab Emirates, according to Sky News.
As reported by various media outlets, 246 inmates from either group will be included in the prisoner swap.
Altogether, approximately 500 Russian and Ukrainian detainees, along with 46 injured service members, are set for exchange.
Previous exchanges
Since the start of the full-scale war, Ukraine and Russia have carried out around 60 prisoner exchanges. More than 3,500 Ukrainians have been returned from Russian captivity.
The biggest prisoner exchange occurred on December 30, 2024, as Ukraine successfully repatriated 189 of its nationals from Russian custody. These individuals included personnel who had defended key locations such as Azovstal and Mariupol, along with those stationed at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and Snake Island, among others from different battle zones.
A different prisoner swap took place on January 15. On this occasion, Ukraine released 25 individuals who were held captive by Russia. These people suffered from serious injuries and health issues. Those liberated included fighters from Mariupol and Azovstal, along with one civilian.
On February 5, Ukraine repatriated 150 individuals from Russian custody, which included servicemen such as soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and commissioned officers.
The latest swap occurred on March 19, with 175 detainees returning from enemy custody. Furthermore, an extra 22 individuals were repatriated via informal procedures not part of official swaps. Subsequently, it came to light that six members of the Azov 12th Special Purpose Brigade had been released from Russian imprisonment.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasizes that the initial move towards achieving peace ought to involve an exchange of all prisoners. Ukraine stands prepared to adopt a just stance—exchanging “everyone for everyone.”
Previously, RBC-Ukraine reported that Ukraine succeeded in establishing a distinct procedure for the repatriation of seriously injured and critically ill individuals held captive in Russia.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War stresses that according to the Third Geneva Convention, those who are seriously ill or injured should be returned home first.
