Ukraine and Russia have carried out another exchange of prisoners of war, with each side returning 205 people - just two days before the expected three-day ceasefire from May 8 to 10, world agencies reported, BTA reports.
„Today Ukraine returned 205 soldiers. Young and older men from almost all types and branches of the armed forces. Defenders of Mariupol and the entire front line. They were scattered across many Russian regions, locked up in a system whose sole purpose was to torture them and destroy their humanity," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on social media, quoted by Ukrinform.
The exchange under the "205 for 205" scheme was also confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry, cited by TASS.
Zelensky thanked everyone who worked on the exchange, emphasizing the important role of the United Arab Emirates as a mediator.
“Thank you to everyone who does not remain indifferent and continues to speak out openly about the Ukrainians in captivity. Every day we fight for our people. "We will do everything possible to bring each of them home," he added, posting photos of the released soldiers.
The last exchange between the two countries was on April 19, when Ukraine returned 277 of its servicemen, including 268 privates and sergeants and nine officers. Most of them were born after 2000.
Today's exchange is the fifth this year and one of the few topics on which Moscow and Kiev have managed to periodically reach agreement, AFP notes.