KYIV – Ukraine and Russia traded almost 200 prisoners of war (POWs) in a swop announced separately by both sides on Saturday, with the bodies of two British volunteers also being sent back to Ukraine. 

The Ukrainian president’s chief of staff, Mr Andriy Yermak, said 116 Ukrainians were returned, while Russian news agencies cited Moscow’s Defence Ministry saying 63 Russian POWs were freed. 

“We managed to return 116 of our people, defenders of Mariupol, partisans from Kherson, snipers from the Bakhmut (front) and other heroes of ours,” Mr Yermak wrote on messaging app Telegram.

He also said the bodies of British volunteer aid workers Andrew Bagshaw and Chris Parry were sent back to Ukraine. 

Mr Bagshaw and Mr Parry were killed during an attempted humanitarian evacuation in eastern Ukraine in January, Mr Parry’s family previously said. 

Russia’s Defence Ministry said the released Russian servicemen included “sensitive category” persons, whose exchange was made possible through the mediation of the United Arab Emirates.

The United Nations in November reported that both Russia and Ukraine had tortured POWs, citing methods such as electric shocks and forced nudity.

Ms Matilda Bogner, head of a Ukraine-based UN monitoring team, said most Ukrainian POWs held by Russia were subjected to dog attacks, mock executions and sexual violence.

On the Ukrainian side, she reported “credible allegations” of summary executions of Russian POWs. REUTERS