Russia, Ukraine Conduct Major UAE-Brokered Prisoner Swap

Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday announced their largest prisoner swap of the conflict in a deal that was brokered by the UAE.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 230 Ukrainians were freed in the deal, including 213 soldiers, 11 officers, and six civilians. Russian media reported that 248 Russian service members were released from Ukrainian captivity.

The UAE’s Foreign Ministry said the deal was able to be reached thanks to its friendly ties with both nations.

“The success of the mediation efforts was a reflection of the strong friendly relations between the UAE and both the Russian Federation and the Republic of Ukraine, which were supported by sustained calls at the highest levels, and which resulted in one of the largest exchanges of captives between the two sides since the beginning of the war,” The ministry said in a statement.

The prisoner exchange comes as Russia has been intensifying its missile and drone strikes in Ukraine, and Ukrainian forces have been stepping up operations inside Russian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to increase strikes on Ukraine in response to a Ukrainian missile attack on Russia’s Belgorod Oblast that killed 25 people.