In a significant diplomatic breakthrough on Ukraine’s Independence Day, August 24, 2024, Russia and Ukraine conducted a large-scale prisoner exchange, with each side releasing 115 captives. This marks the first such exchange since Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk region on August 6, 2024.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the return of 115 Ukrainian defenders, including members of the National Guard, Armed Forces, Naval Forces, and State Border Service. Among the released Ukrainians were 82 defenders of Mariupol, half of whom had defended the Azovstal steel plant in 2022. Additionally, nine wrongly convicted defenders and six National Guard members from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant guard were among those freed.On the Russian side, the Ministry of Defense confirmed the return of 115 servicemen captured in the Kursk region. These soldiers are currently in Belarus, receiving medical and psychological assistance before being transported to Russian military medical facilities for further treatment and rehabilitation.The exchange was facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, which has now mediated a total of 1,788 prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine since the conflict began. Both Zelensky and Russian officials expressed gratitude for the UAE’s role in the process.This prisoner swap comes at a time of heightened tensions, following Ukraine’s recent operation in the Kursk region of Russia, which began on August 6. The exchange demonstrates a willingness from both sides to engage in humanitarian gestures despite ongoing hostilities.As the conflict continues, both Ukraine and Russia emphasize their commitment to recovering their captured personnel. Zelensky stated, “We remember each and every one of them. We are searching and making every effort to return all of them”, highlighting the ongoing nature of these efforts in the broader context of the war.
Key points
- Russia and Ukraine exchanged 115 prisoners each on Ukraine’s Independence Day, August 24, 2024.
- The exchange included Ukrainian defenders from various military branches and Russian servicemen captured in the Kursk region.
- The United Arab Emirates facilitated the exchange, continuing its role as a mediator in the conflict.
- This marks the first prisoner exchange since Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk region on August 6, 2024.
