MOSCOW — Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange on Saturday, with each side releasing 115 military personnel, in a swap mediated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Russian Defense Ministry announced that the 115 Russian servicemen, who were captured by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk border region, have been returned from territory under Kyiv's control.

The released Russian military personnel are currently in neighboring Belarus and will be transferred to Russia for treatment and rehabilitation in medical facilities run by the Defense Ministry.

In exchange, Ukraine received 115 of its military personnel. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the swap on X, stating, “Another 115 of our defenders have returned home today. These are warriors of the National Guard, the Armed Forces, the Navy, and the State Border Guard Service.”

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the units that contribute to the exchange fund, highlighting the importance of these efforts in securing the release of Ukrainian military personnel and civilians from Russian captivity. He also thanked the UAE for its mediation role in the swap.

This latest exchange marks the 55th prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine since the conflict began on February 24, 2022. The two countries previously exchanged 95 prisoners of war in July. — Agencies