FLASH NEWS
Ukraine secures the return of 49 prisoners of war in an exchange with Russia
2024-09-13 15:44:10 / BOTA
Ukraine has secured the release of 49 people held by Russia in a new prisoner exchange with Moscow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday.
The exchange was made possible through the mediation of the United Arab Emirates, a spokesman for Ukraine's military intelligence agency said.
"Another return of our people - a permanent goal of ours that we work tirelessly to achieve... We must bring home all our people, soldiers and civilians," President Zelensky said in a post on the platform social X, while announcing the exchange of 56 people with Russia.
Mr. Zelensky's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said on the Telegram platform that among the freed Ukrainians were seven civilians as well as members of the armed forces, national guard, police and border service.
Ukraine did not announce how many Russian citizens were released. Moscow has not yet commented on this exchange.
Footage from an unidentified location released by Ukraine showed members of the security forces being greeted with bouquets of flowers, hugs and signs reading: "Thank you for staying."
Kiev and Moscow have frequently exchanged prisoners since Russia invaded Ukraine. Friday's exchange is the second since Ukraine launched its cross-border offensive in Russia's Kursk region in early August.
Ukraine says it has kidnapped at least 600 Russian soldiers during this operation and that through them it will ensure the return of Ukrainians captured by Russian forces.
Mr. Yermak said some of the freed Ukrainians had been part of the forces defending Mariupol and the Azovstal steel plant in the southern port, the scene of fierce fighting and now occupied by Russian forces.
The People's Advocate of Ukraine, Dmytro Lubinets, said that so far Ukraine has ensured the return of 3,569 people who were being held by Russia since the beginning of the war./VOA
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