Russia, Ukraine conduct large prisoner exchange after Putin-Trump call
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a photo of returning Ukrainian soldiers on social media platform X.
PHOTO: X/@ZELENSKYYUA
Follow topic:
KYIV – Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 175 prisoners of war each, both sides said on March 19, following a phone call
In total, 372 prisoners were exchanged. Russia handed over an additional 22 heavily wounded Ukrainian prisoners, both sides confirmed.
The Russian Defence Ministry said the 22 were in need of urgent medical care and had been returned in what it described as a goodwill gesture.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a statement on social media platform X described the exchange as one of the largest of its kind and said the 22 Ukrainians were “severely wounded warriors and those whom Russia persecuted for fabricated crimes”.
He added: “All of them will immediately receive the necessary medical and psychological assistance.”
Russia’s Defence Ministry said the United Arab Emirates had used mediation efforts of “a humanitarian nature” to facilitate the deal.
It added that the Russian soldiers freed in the deal were in Belarus receiving medical and psychological care before being transported to Russia for further treatment. REUTERS
