Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner swap on Saturday, exchanging 230 captives. This marked the first such exchange since Ukraine launched a cross-border attack into Russia’s Kursk region on August 6.
The United Arab Emirates mediated the prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that 115 Ukrainian soldiers had returned home, including members of the National Guard, Armed Forces, Navy, and Border Guard.
Russian forces captured the 115 returned soldiers during the Kursk Offensive. Ukraine’s goal in the operation was to capture Russian soldiers to trade for Ukrainian prisoners of war. So far, Ukraine claims to control over 1,000 square kilometers of the Kursk region.
In addition to the prisoner swap, Ukraine reported attacking a Russian ammunition depot in the Voronezh region. Meanwhile, five people lost their lives in a Russian strike in the eastern town of Kostyantynivka.
President Zelensky expressed gratitude to the UAE for facilitating the prisoner swap. He emphasized that Ukraine is working tirelessly to bring back all its military and civilian captives from Russian captivity.
According to Zelensky, the Kursk Offensive operation aimed to deter Russian attacks towards Sumy, a city in Ukraine. He stated that Ukraine would continue to push for a diplomatic end to the war, forcing Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate.
In summary, the prisoner swap marks a significant development in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine’s military operations in the Kursk region have yielded results, with the return of 115 soldiers. The country remains committed to securing the release of all its captives and achieving a diplomatic resolution to the war.
