Russia and Ukraine complete prisoner swap after plane crash
The warring sides exchange hundreds of prisoners of war and signal more exchanges ahead
31 January 2024 - 21:18
byYuliia Dysa
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A Ukrainian prisoner of war reacts after arriving at an unknown location in Ukraine, January 31 2024. Picture: UKRAINE PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/REUTERS
Moscow/Kyiv — Russia and Ukraine said on Wednesday they had completed another large prisoner exchange despite the crash last week of a Russian military transport plane that Moscow says was shot down by Ukraine carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war en route to a similar swap.
The two countries have carried out periodic prisoner swaps via intermediaries since the war began nearly two years ago, despite the absence of peace talks since the early months.
The Russian defence ministry said each side had received 195 soldiers, while Ukraine said it had got 207 people back.
Russia’s foreign ministry thanked the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for helping broker the deal, adding in a statement that Russian soldiers would be flown to Moscow for medical and psychological treatment.
The ministry said Wednesday’s swap was originally intended to take place on January 24, but was disrupted by Ukraine shooting down a Russian plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners to the exchange point with a ground-to-air missile killing all 74 people on board.
The Il-76 transport plane was downed inside Russia’s Belgorod region. President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Kyiv had used a US Patriot missile system to bring it down.
Ukraine has neither confirmed nor denied that it downed the plane, and has demanded proof of who was on board.
Putin said Moscow would continue such exchanges and that Kyiv had indicated it was open to more.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the exchange on X: "Our people are back. 207 of them. We return them home no matter what."
Ukraine’s state body in charge of prisoners said the 50th such exchange had brought home soldiers involved in defending the cities of Mariupol and Kherson, as well as some captured by Russia on Snake Island in the Black Sea.
It said marines and combat medics were among the Ukrainians returned, with 36 injured or seriously ill.
The latest and biggest exchange was on January 3, when 478 captives were traded, also with UAE mediation.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Russia and Ukraine complete prisoner swap after plane crash
The warring sides exchange hundreds of prisoners of war and signal more exchanges ahead
Moscow/Kyiv — Russia and Ukraine said on Wednesday they had completed another large prisoner exchange despite the crash last week of a Russian military transport plane that Moscow says was shot down by Ukraine carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war en route to a similar swap.
The two countries have carried out periodic prisoner swaps via intermediaries since the war began nearly two years ago, despite the absence of peace talks since the early months.
The Russian defence ministry said each side had received 195 soldiers, while Ukraine said it had got 207 people back.
Russia’s foreign ministry thanked the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for helping broker the deal, adding in a statement that Russian soldiers would be flown to Moscow for medical and psychological treatment.
The ministry said Wednesday’s swap was originally intended to take place on January 24, but was disrupted by Ukraine shooting down a Russian plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners to the exchange point with a ground-to-air missile killing all 74 people on board.
The Il-76 transport plane was downed inside Russia’s Belgorod region. President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Kyiv had used a US Patriot missile system to bring it down.
Ukraine has neither confirmed nor denied that it downed the plane, and has demanded proof of who was on board.
Putin said Moscow would continue such exchanges and that Kyiv had indicated it was open to more.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the exchange on X: "Our people are back. 207 of them. We return them home no matter what."
Ukraine’s state body in charge of prisoners said the 50th such exchange had brought home soldiers involved in defending the cities of Mariupol and Kherson, as well as some captured by Russia on Snake Island in the Black Sea.
It said marines and combat medics were among the Ukrainians returned, with 36 injured or seriously ill.
The latest and biggest exchange was on January 3, when 478 captives were traded, also with UAE mediation.
Reuters
Russia says Ukraine had a 15-minute warning about plane with prisoners of war
Ukrainian IDs and tattooed body parts found at crash site, Russia says
Early-morning Russian air strikes hit Kyiv and Kharkiv
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