In a major development following months of stalled negotiations, Russia and Ukraine have exchanged over 470 prisoners of war in the largest single release of captives since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The prisoner swap took place on January 3, 2024, with Ukraine receiving 230 of its prisoners while Russia welcomed back 248 of its soldiers after mediation by the United Arab Emirates.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the return of more than 200 soldiers and civilians from Russian captivity, marking the largest documented swap of troops between the two sides. Some of the Ukrainian prisoners had been held since 2022, including those who fought in key battles for Ukraine’s Snake Island and the port city of Mariupol.
However, tensions remain high as Russia reported that Ukraine fired 12 missiles at its southern region bordering Ukraine, with several villages coming under attack and a power line being knocked out. Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed that Kyiv’s attacks on Belgorod will not go unpunished.
The prisoner exchange and the escalating attacks on Belgorod come after Kyiv accused Moscow of launching hundreds of attack drones and missiles across Ukraine since Friday. This exchange is the first in almost five months, and the negotiations were described as “complex” according to the Russian Ministry of Defence.
The release of the prisoners of war is a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, but the continued security incidents in the region demonstrate that tensions persist. The latest exchange marks a positive step towards de-escalation, but the situation remains unpredictable and volatile.
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