Russian soldiers who have been seized have been transported to Belarus, where they are being treated and provided with psychological support, Moscow said. Ukraine also repatriated to Russia eight civilians from the Kursk region.

Zelenskyy Confirms the Swap
The exchange was announced Monday by President Zelenskyy on his Telegram channel, which showed photos of the smiling returnees. Most of the Ukrainian prisoners who were freed had been held since 2022, shortly after Russia began its full-scale invasion. They included a journalist who had been among the first to be taken prisoner a month into the war.

Zelenskyy thanked the United Arab Emirates for its involvement in enabling the exchange to take place. Ukraine’s potential to seize Russian servicemen contributes to “the exchange fund,” he added, meaning that there will be more swaps in the future. In a statement, the Ukrainian military also said the final tally matched the number exchanged — 146 prisoners on each side.

Disputes Over Civilians From Kursk
Vladimir Medinsky, a former Russian negotiator with Ukraine, condemned Kyiv for what he described as a failure to repatriate civilians from Russia’s Kursk region he accused of “refusing to cooperate”. Ukrainian troops launched a major mission across the border into the region a year ago, and more than 20 residents are still waiting to return.

Medinsky added that the Russian government has been left with no choice but to engage in “hard bargaining” to have civilians return home. He accused Ukraine of letting them go in small groups in return for individuals it wants in return. But such wrangling aside, the triumphant swap underlines that the exchange of prisoners goes on even as war rages.