Russia and Ukraine swap 206 prisoners in UAE-brokered deal

Prisoners taken in Kursk region were freed in latest exchange

Ukrainian prisoners of war were released in an exchange deal with Russia. Ukraine Presidency

Russia has swapped 103 Ukrainian soldiers held captive for an equal number of Russian prisoners of war in an exchange deal brokered by the UAE.

The Russian troops freed in Saturday's swap were captured during Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region, which began on August 6, according to the Russian defence ministry.

The announcement comes just three weeks after Russia and Ukraine swapped 115 PoWs each in an exchange deal also mediated by the UAE.

"As a result of the negotiation process, 103 Russian servicemen captured in the Kursk region were returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime," the Russian defence ministry said. "In return, 103 Ukrainian army prisoners of war were handed over."

"At present, all Russian servicemen are on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, where they are being provided with the necessary psychological and medical assistance, as well as an opportunity to contact their relatives," the ministry added.

Ukraine’s contingent included members of the armed forces and national guard, as well as police officers and border guards, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media.

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's ombudsman, said most of the freed Ukrainians had been in Russian captivity since the early days of the invasion.

The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its thanks to the two countries for their co-operation to make the prisoner exchange process a success.

Despite continuing hostilities, Russia and Ukraine have managed to swap hundreds of prisoners throughout the two-and-half-year conflict, often in deals brokered by the UAE, Saudi Arabia or Turkey.

There have been eight UAE-mediated exchanges since the outbreak of the war. The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this was a reflection of the co-operation and friendship between the UAE and the two countries.