Russia and Ukraine have carried out a new exchange of prisoners of war, with each side returning 146 people to the other, news agencies reported, BTA reports.
The Defense Ministry in Moscow announced that the exchange was carried out with the mediation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and noted the efforts of the Emirates for its implementation.
All the released Russian prisoners of war are in Belarus, where they are receiving psychological and medical assistance. In addition, Ukraine returned eight Russian citizens, residents of the Kursk region, to Moscow, the ministry added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the exchange in a post on Telegram, Ukrinform reported. He noted that among the returned Ukrainians is journalist Dmytro Khiluk, who was kidnapped in the Kyiv region in March 2022.
The remaining returned Ukrainians are fighters from the Armed Forces, Border Guard officers, and civilians. Zelensky added that the exchange is currently ongoing, and thanked the UAE for its mediation efforts.