Historic Exchange Following Major Attack
On Saturday, Russia and Ukraine successfully exchanged 115 prisoners of war from each side, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) acting as the intermediary. This marks the first prisoner swap since Ukraine’s surprise attack on Russia’s Kursk region on August 6, the most significant foreign assault on Russian soil since World War II.
Details of the Swap
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the exchanged Russian servicemen had been captured during the Kursk attack. The released Russian soldiers are now in Belarus, where they will receive medical care and rehabilitation before returning to Russia. The Ministry expressed gratitude to the UAE for its facilitation of the exchange.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shared images of the released Ukrainian prisoners, wrapped in blue and yellow flags and embracing each other. He noted that the returned personnel included members from the border guards, national guard, navy, and armed forces. Zelenskiy also thanked the Ukrainian troops who contributed to increasing the pool of prisoners available for exchange.
UAE’s Role in Mediation
The UAE Foreign Ministry confirmed its role in the prisoner swap, bringing the total number of captives exchanged through its mediation to 1,788. This is the seventh exchange mediated by the UAE since the start of the conflict. An Emirati official previously indicated that Russia and Ukraine were set to swap prisoners with the Gulf state’s assistance.
Abu Dhabi, a key security partner of the United States, has maintained strong relations with both Moscow and Kyiv throughout the conflict. UAE officials assert that their diplomatic reach allows them to effectively mediate between international parties and foster cooperation and security.