The swap was carried out with UAE mediation, the Defense Ministry has said
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 205 prisoners of war, the Defense Ministry in Moscow announced on Friday.
The ministry said the Russian servicemen are currently in Belarus and are receiving psychological and medical assistance, adding that they will be taken to Russia for further treatment and rehabilitation.
The officials noted that the release was negotiated with the assistance of the United Arab Emirates, which has helped mediate exchanges on numerous occasions.
Ukraine has confirmed the swap, describing it as the first stage of a wider 1,000 for 1,000 exchange, which was announced by US President Donald Trump on May 8 as part of a US-mediated three-day ceasefire around Russia's Victory Day commemorations.
Officials in Kiev said the freed group includes army, navy, and air force service members, as well as members of the territorial defense forces, the National Guard, and the Border Guard Service. They added that almost all of those released were held for four years, and most were captured during the fighting in Mariupol in 2022.
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