The announcement come as Russia intensifies its assaults on Ukraine.
Kyiv:
Ukraine and Russia mentioned Wednesday they’d exchanged over 200 captive troopers every, in what officers have described as the largest prisoner swap of the conflict thus far.
The 2 warring sides have carried out dozens of exchanges since Moscow invaded in February 2022, however the course of stalled within the latter half of final yr.
In close to simultaneous statements, Russia and Ukraine introduced they’d obtained over 200 troopers every following talks mediated by the United Arab Emirates.
“Greater than 200 of our troopers and civilians have been returned from Russian captivity,” Zelensky mentioned on Telegram, posting a video of uniformed males celebrating.
Neither facet had introduced an trade in virtually 5 months, prompting Kyiv to accuse Moscow of intentionally blocking offers for political causes.
“There was an extended pause within the exchanges, however there was no pause within the negotiations,” Zelensky mentioned in a later message, hailing the swap as “excellent news”.
Moscow’s defence ministry mentioned 248 of its servicemen had been returned, and that they have been being supplied with “medical and psychological help”.
The UAE mentioned the deal mirrored its “sturdy pleasant relations” with each Russia and Ukraine.
Neither facet discloses what number of prisoners are of their custody.
– Frontline strikes –
The announcement got here as Russia continued to strike frontline areas of Ukraine, killing three individuals and wounding a minimum of one, native officers mentioned.
Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed earlier this week to accentuate strikes on the nation following an unprecedented assault on the Russian metropolis of Belgorod over the weekend.
“Right now, at round 11 am (0900 GMT), Russians struck town of Avdiivka with 4 missiles,” Donetsk regional head Vadym Filashkin mentioned in a Telegram message.
“A 51-year-old man died on the spot,” he mentioned, including {that a} 50-year-old girl was wounded and brought to hospital.
Avdiivka lies near the Russian-controlled stronghold of Donetsk and has been the main target of intense combating for months.
Russian shelling additionally killed two individuals in villages on the Ukrainian-controlled western financial institution of the Dnipro River in Kherson area, regional head Oleksandr Prokudin mentioned.
With the conflict nearing its second anniversary, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged his Western allies to maintain up assist amid intensified Russian assaults.
Russian forces launched a wave of air strikes on Ukrainian cities final Friday, killing 53 individuals, together with 30 within the capital Kyiv, authorities mentioned in an up to date toll Wednesday.
Moscow has in the meantime continued an offensive close to Bakhmut and Avdiivka on the jap entrance, in addition to Kupiansk within the northeast, Ukrainian military officers mentioned.
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