Russia, Ukraine swap war prisoners

MOSCOW/KIEV — Russia and Ukraine exchanged 206 prisoners of war on Saturday, said the Russian Defense Ministry.

“A total of 103 Russian servicemen who were taken prisoner in Kursk region have been released. In exchange, 103 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been transferred,” Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

All the exchanged Russian soldiers are in Belarus where they are provided necessary assistance. The United Arab Emirates made humanitarian mediation efforts for the exchange, it said.

The exchange was the second one in two days, Ukrainian authorities said on Saturday.

A total of 103 Ukrainian military troops, including 21 officers, were released, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote in a post on Telegram.

XINHUA