Russia and Ukraine have carried out a major prisoner exchange, with over three hundred soldiers from both sides released in a deal mediated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to Russia&rsquo;s Ministry of Defence, 150 Ukrainian prisoners of war were exchanged for the same number of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-vows-response-after-state-media-blocked-on-telegram-in-eu-8577944" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Russian</a> troops. In a statement, the ministry said, &ldquo;On Dec. 30, as a result of the negotiation process, 150 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime. In return, 150 Ukrainian prisoners of war were handed over.&rdquo;
Also read: <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-us-support-strengthened-israel-and-ukraine-in-their-wars-8574196" aria-label="How US support strengthened Israel and Ukraine in their wars">How US support strengthened Israel and Ukraine in their wars</a>
The ministry added, "Currently, all Russian servicemen are in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, where they are receiving the necessary psychological and medical assistance, as well as the opportunity to contact their relatives. All released servicemen will be delivered to the Russian Federation for treatment and rehabilitation in medical institutions of the Russian Ministry of Defense."&nbsp;
Also read: <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-not-satisfied-with-us-president-elect-trumps-nato-freeze-and-peacekeeper-plan-for-ukraine-report-8576040" aria-label="Russia 'not satisfied' with Donald Trump's Ukraine peace plan:&nbsp;Report">Russia 'not satisfied' with Donald Trump's Ukraine peace plan:&nbsp;Report</a>
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 189 Ukrainians had been released as part of the exchange. "We are working to free everyone from Russian captivity. This is our goal. We do not forget anyone," he said.
President Zelensky added that those released included defenders from key locations: Azovstal, Mariupol, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and Snake Island. Among the released prisoners were soldiers, border guards, officers, and two civilians captured in Mariupol.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=ukraine" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ukraine&rsquo;s government</a> said that Moscow has so far released a total of 3,956 individuals both military personnel and civilians, through prisoner swaps since the war began.
<h2>'Very soon our guys will celebrate New Year in their native land'</h2>
Video shared by Russia&rsquo;s human rights commissioner, Tatyana Moskalkova, showed soldiers in winter gear standing near buses. Moskalkova thanked them for their service, &ldquo;I thank you for your service, patience, and courage,&rdquo; while wishing them a happy New Year.
"Very soon our guys will embrace their relatives and friends and celebrate the New Year in their native land," she wrote in a Telegram message.
Meanwhile, Zelensky posted images of Ukrainian soldiers holding yellow-and-blue flags while seated on a coach bus after their release. This marked the 59th prisoner exchange since the beginning of Russia&rsquo;s full-scale invasion and was one of the largest swaps to date.
(With inputs from agencies)

World news: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 189 Ukrainians had been freed as part of the exchange. "We are working to free everyone from Russian captivity. This is our goal. We do not forget anyone," he said.

Russia and Ukraine have carried out a major prisoner exchange, with over three hundred soldiers from both sides released in a deal mediated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to Russia’s Ministry of Defence, 150 Ukrainian prisoners of war were exchanged for the same number of Russian troops. In a statement, the ministry said, “On Dec. 30, as a result of the negotiation process, 150 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime. In return, 150 Ukrainian prisoners of war were handed over.” Also read: How US support strengthened Israel and Ukraine in their wars The ministry added, "Currently, all Russian servicemen are in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, where they are receiving the necessary psychological and medical assistance, as well as the opportunity to contact their relatives. All released servicemen will be delivered to the Russian Federation for treatment and rehabilitation in medical institutions of the Russian Ministry of Defense." Also read: Russia 'not satisfied' with Donald Trump's Ukraine peace plan: Report Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 189 Ukrainians had been released as part of the exchange. "We are working to free everyone from Russian captivity. This is our goal. We do not forget anyone," he said. President Zelensky added that those released included defenders from key locations: Azovstal, Mariupol, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and Snake Island. Among the released prisoners were soldiers, border guards, officers, and two civilians captured in Mariupol. Ukraine’s government said that Moscow has so far released a total of 3,956 individuals both military personnel and civilians, through prisoner swaps since the war began. 'Very soon our guys will celebrate New Year in their native land' Video shared by Russia’s human rights commissioner, Tatyana Moskalkova, showed soldiers in winter gear standing near buses. Moskalkova thanked them for their service, “I thank you for your service, patience, and courage,” while wishing them a happy New Year. "Very soon our guys will embrace their relatives and friends and celebrate the New Year in their native land," she wrote in a Telegram message. Meanwhile, Zelensky posted images of Ukrainian soldiers holding yellow-and-blue flags while seated on a coach bus after their release. This marked the 59th prisoner exchange since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion and was one of the largest swaps to date. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow, Kyiv exchange 300 prisoners in UAE-brokered deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday it was too early to discuss in detail a possible prisoner exchange with Ukraine, amid hopes for the release of film director Oleg Sentsov and others during the World Cup.

But the Kremlin leader indicated that backdoor negotiations were apparently underway, raising hopes for the release of dozens of prisoners including Sentsov, who is undertaking a high-profile hunger strike at a prison in Russia's far north.

"It's so far premature to say how this issue will be solved," Putin told reporters at a security summit in the Chinese city of Qingdao, adding he would not want to comment for now "so as not to violate anything here and not to disrupt anything."

Putin and Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko discussed a possible exchange of prisoners in a rare phone call Saturday and agreed that officials from the two countries would visit their prisoners "in the near future".

Putin said it was Poroshenko who initiated the discussion.

Fears have grown in recent weeks that Sentsov, a 41-year-old Ukrainian director and author who is serving a 20-year prison sentence on terrorism charges in Russia, could die behind bars.

He went on hunger strike on May 14 to demand Russia release dozens of Ukrainian political prisoners, timing his protest to coincide with the month-long football extravaganza that begins on Thursday.

The father of two said he was ready to die in prison, drawing comparisons with Soviet-era dissident Anatoly Marchenko, who starved himself to death in prison in 1986 after he demanded Moscow release its prisoners of conscience.

Sentsov, who is also a pro-Ukrainian activist, was detained in Crimea in 2014 after Russia annexed the peninsula and moved to support pro-Moscow separatists in the east of Ukraine, in a conflict that has since claimed more than 10,000 lives.

According to Kiev's estimates, Moscow is currently holding around 70 Ukrainian political prisoners.

Kiev said it was ready to exchange "23 Russians who were conducting spying activities in Ukraine".

Putin and Poroshenko spoke on the phone ahead of key talks Monday in Berlin between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers that will also include German and French representatives.

The talks are aimed at reviving a stalled peace process in eastern Ukraine and putting an end to lingering clashes between Ukrainian government troops and pro-Russian rebels.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday it was too early to discuss in detail a possible prisoner exchange with Ukraine, amid hopes for the release of film director Oleg Sentsov and others during the World Cup.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday it was too early to discuss in detail a possible prisoner exchange with Ukraine, amid hopes for the release of film director Oleg Sentsov and others during the World Cup. But the Kremlin leader indicated that backdoor negotiations were apparently underway, raising hopes for the release of dozens of prisoners including Sentsov, who is undertaking a high-profile hunger strike at a prison in Russia's far north. "It's so far premature to say how this issue will be solved," Putin told reporters at a security summit in the Chinese city of Qingdao, adding he would not want to comment for now "so as not to violate anything here and not to disrupt anything." Putin and Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko discussed a possible exchange of prisoners in a rare phone call Saturday and agreed that officials from the two countries would visit their prisoners "in the near future". Putin said it was Poroshenko who initiated the discussion. Fears have grown in recent weeks that Sentsov, a 41-year-old Ukrainian director and author who is serving a 20-year prison sentence on terrorism charges in Russia, could die behind bars. He went on hunger strike on May 14 to demand Russia release dozens of Ukrainian political prisoners, timing his protest to coincide with the month-long football extravaganza that begins on Thursday. The father of two said he was ready to die in prison, drawing comparisons with Soviet-era dissident Anatoly Marchenko, who starved himself to death in prison in 1986 after he demanded Moscow release its prisoners of conscience. Sentsov, who is also a pro-Ukrainian activist, was detained in Crimea in 2014 after Russia annexed the peninsula and moved to support pro-Moscow separatists in the east of Ukraine, in a conflict that has since claimed more than 10,000 lives. According to Kiev's estimates, Moscow is currently holding around 70 Ukrainian political prisoners. Kiev said it was ready to exchange "23 Russians who were conducting spying activities in Ukraine". Putin and Poroshenko spoke on the phone ahead of key talks Monday in Berlin between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers that will also include German and French representatives. The talks are aimed at reviving a stalled peace process in eastern Ukraine and putting an end to lingering clashes between Ukrainian government troops and pro-Russian rebels.

Putin says 'premature' to divulge details of Ukraine prisoner exchange

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Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow, Kyiv exchange 300 prisoners in UAE-brokered deal

Putin says 'premature' to divulge details of Ukraine prisoner exchange