Hundreds of Ukrainian, Russian soldiers return home in largest prison swap

Dec 31, 2024

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Ryan Robertson Anchor

By Ryan Robertson (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor)

Russia and Ukraine carried out their 59th prisoner exchange since the full-scale invasion began, with 189 Ukrainians and 150 Russians released in a deal mediated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The exchange highlights one of the few direct avenues of relief in a conflict now approaching its third year. Thousands of captives remain on both sides.

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Among the Ukrainians released were soldiers, border guards and civilians, some held captive since the early weeks of the invasion. The group included individuals captured in key battles, such as the Siege of Mariupol and the defense of Snake Island, symbols of Ukraine’s resilience.

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Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that its freed troops were first transported to Belarus, where they received medical checkups and psychological evaluations before returning home. Russia’s human rights commissioner welcomed the soldiers, commending their endurance during captivity.

The UAE played a critical role in brokering the exchange, continuing its efforts as a neutral mediator in the conflict. Over the past year, Abu Dhabi has facilitated the release of more than 2,000 captives, leveraging established relationships to navigate strained ties between Moscow and Kyiv.

In the United States, the exchange coincided with President Joe Biden’s approval of $2.5 billion in additional military aid for Ukraine. However, uncertainty looms as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office in a few weeks. Trump has expressed a commitment to mediating an end to the war, but his administration’s potential policy shifts remain unclear.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently dismissed a peace proposal from Trump’s transition team.

Tags: Belarus, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Prison, prisoner swap, Prisoners, Russia, Russia-Ukraine War, Russian Defense Ministry, Ukraine, Ukraine aid, Ukraine Defense Ministry, Ukrainian Security Service, United Arab Emirates

[ryan robertson]

RUSSIA AND UKRAINE JUST CONDUCTED THE 59TH PRISONER EXCHANGE SINCE THE FULL-SCALE INVASION BEGAN, AND IT WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST SWAPS TO DATE. THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES NEGOTIATED THE DEAL, WHICH RESULTED IN THE RELEASE OF 189 UKRAINIANS AND 150 RUSSIANS.

WITH THOUSANDS OF CAPTIVES STILL ON BOTH SIDES, THOUGH, PRISONER EXCHANGES REMAIN ONE OF THE FEW DIRECT AVENUES OF RELIEF IN A WAR THAT’S ABOUT TO STRETCH INTO ITS THIRD YEAR.

THE FREED UKRAINIANS INCLUDED SOLDIERS, BORDER GUARDS, AND CIVILIANS, SOME WERE HELD CAPTIVE SINCE THE EARLY WEEKS OF THE INVASION. LIKE SOLDIERS FROM SIGNIFICANT BATTLES AT MARIUPOL AND SNAKE ISLAND, WHICH BECAME SYMBOLIC OF UKRAINE’S RESISTANCE.

THE RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS ITS TROOPS WERE TRANSPORTED TO BELARUS, WHERE THEY RECEIVED PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS AND MEDICAL CHECKUPS BEFORE RETURNING HOME. RUSSIA’S HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER WELCOMED THE SOLDIERS HOME PRAISING THEM FOR THEIR ENDURANCE DURING CAPTIVITY.

THE UAE’S KEY ROLE IN BROKERING THE EXCHANGE BUILT ON ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS. OVER THE PAST YEAR, ABU DHABI MEDIATED THE RELEASE OF MORE THAN 2,000 CAPTIVES, LEVERAGING ITS NEUTRAL POSITION TO NAVIGATE THE STRAINED RELATIONS BETWEEN MOSCOW AND KYIV.

IN THE U.S., THE EXCHANGE HAPPENED AS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN APPROVED $2.5 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL MILITARY AID FOR UKRAINE. HOWEVER, WITH PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP PREPARING TO TAKE OFFICE IN A MATTER OF WEEKS, QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT FUTURE U.S. INVOLVEMENT. TRUMP SAYS HE’S FOCUSED ON ENDING THE CONFLICT, , MEANWHILE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV RECENTLY REJECTED A PEACE PROPOSAL FROM TRUMP’S TRANSITION TEAM

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