Russia and Ukraine completed another exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) on Wednesday, with each side repatriating 95 individuals. According to the Russian defense ministry on Telegram, all returning prisoners will receive adequate medical treatment. Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenskyy also confirmed the successful exchange on X, expressing gratitude to the United Arabian Emirates (UAE), which mediated the deal.
This exchange marks the third such occurrence in the past seven weeks and adds to the 54 previous swaps, fostering a meticulously arranged process where both countries only meet under agreements to exchange deceased soldiers and POWs. Among the 180 repatriated individuals were members of Ukraine’s armed forces, National Guard, and Border Guard Service, some of whom have been held captive since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
The UAE has maintained a relatively neutral stance and cordial relations with Russia, facilitating six exchanges between the two warring nations. However, this neutrality has drawn criticism from the US, which urges the UAE to adopt sanctions against Russia. In January, the UAE mediated another significant exchange involving 500 prisoners.
A recent UN report highlighted the harrowing conditions faced by Ukrainian POWs, who are subjected to severe psychological and physical abuse. Amnesty International denounced these actions as clear breaches of international humanitarian law. There have also been sporadic reports of Russian soldiers facing poor treatment during their transfer to detention facilities.
For more detailed information, refer to the original article on JURIST.