Russia, Ukraine Exchange 300 Prisoners in Rare Deal

• Russia and Ukraine exchange 300 prisoners in a UAE-brokered deal.
• Freed Russian troops receive medical care in Belarus; Ukraine remains silent.
• Rising POW numbers fuel concerns as Russia gains ground on the battlefield.

Russia and Ukraine have conducted a large-scale prisoner exchange, with each side releasing 150 captured soldiers, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence.

The exchange, facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, marks a rare moment of cooperation amid the ongoing conflict.

The Russian Ministry of Defence reported that the freed Russian soldiers were transported to Belarus, a close ally of Moscow.

There, they are receiving medical care and have been given the opportunity to reconnect with their families. Ukraine has yet to issue an official statement regarding the exchange.

This swap follows just 10 similar exchanges between the two nations earlier this year.

Negotiations over prisoner exchanges have reportedly become more challenging, with Petro Yatsenko from Ukraine’s Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War telling the BBC that talks with Moscow have grown increasingly difficult, particularly since Russian forces have made notable advances on the battlefield.

While Ukraine does not disclose the number of its soldiers held by Russia, estimates suggest the figure exceeds 8,000.

Russia’s battlefield gains this year have fueled concerns about a rise in Ukrainian soldiers being captured, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation.

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