Russia and Ukraine announced on Thursday that they have each exchanged 20 soldiers in what was the most recent prisoner exchange between the two warring countries.
“Another Prisoner Exchange, Another Moment of Joy”, Ukrainian presidential adviser Andriy Yermak said on Telegram. “We managed to free 20 people,” he revealed, explaining that they were “14 soldiers of the Ukrainian army, four members of the territorial defense, one member of the National Guard and one member of the Ukrainian Navy”. said Yermak.
Yermak published two photos and a short video of released prisoners in military uniform sitting on a bus and noted that the released soldiers were undergoing medical examination.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced in a statement on Telegram that “20 Russian soldiers have returned from Kiev-controlled Ukrainian territory” and are receiving the medical and psychological help they need.
On Tuesday, Andrii Yermak had announced a prisoner exchange with Russia involving 32 Ukrainian soldiers, and the body of Israeli Dmytro Fialka had been recovered.
Ukrainian authorities estimate that about 2,500 foreign soldiers and fighters are currently being held in Russia.
The most relevant agreement so far took place on 21 September with the exchange of more than 200 prisoners by the two sides, following negotiations with third countries.
Pope Francis also acknowledged his personal involvement in these negotiations.
The military offensive launched by Russia in Ukraine on Feb. 24 has already resulted in the flight of more than 13 million people — more than six million internally displaced persons and more than 7.5 million to European countries — according to the latest UN data. , who rank this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
The Russian invasion – justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security – was condemned by the generality of the international community, which has responded by sending arms to Ukraine and Russia of political and economic sanctions.
Source: DN
