Russia and ukraine Exchange 103 Prisoners Each in UAE-Brokered Agreement

On Saturday, russia and ukraine completed a significant prisoner exchange, each releasing 103 detainees in a deal facilitated by the United Arab Emirates. This exchange marks a rare instance of cooperation between the two nations amidst ongoing conflict, with russia advancing in eastern Ukraine.

According to Moscow, the released Russian prisoners were captured during Ukraine's offensive into the Kursk region. In return, ukraine freed some of the Ukrainian prisoners who had been detained since the capture of the Azovstal steel plant in May 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the return of 103 soldiers, including 82 privates and sergeants and 21 officers, from various regions including Kyiv, Donetsk, Mariupol, and others.

Russia's defense ministry stated that the 103 Ukrainian prisoners received were from Kyiv's forces captured during their Kursk offensive. The released Russian servicemen are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving psychological and medical support and have been given the chance to contact their families.

Despite the ongoing hostilities, russia and ukraine have managed several prisoner swaps throughout the two-and-a-half-year conflict, often mediated by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, or Turkey. This latest exchange follows a similar deal three weeks ago and comes a day after Zelensky reported the return of 49 Ukrainian POWs from Russia.

The UAE’s foreign ministry praised the successful negotiation and thanked both parties for their cooperation.

Russian Advances

The prisoner swap coincides with Russia's continued advances in eastern Ukraine. The Russian defense ministry reported the capture of Zhelanne Pershe, a village less than 30 kilometers from the crucial Ukrainian logistics hub of Pokrovsk. This area, essential for Ukrainian supply lines, has seen significant evacuations, with more than half of its 60,000 residents fleeing since the start of the invasion in february 2022.

Ukraine had hoped a recent incursion into the Kursk region would slow Russian progress, but President Zelensky acknowledged that the situation in the east remains "very difficult," despite some delays to Russian advances.

Missile Tensions

Tensions between russia and the West escalated this week over discussions in the UK and US regarding the potential provision of long-range missiles to ukraine for strikes inside Russia. President Vladimir Putin warned that such a move would represent a significant escalation, effectively putting NATO at war with Russia.

US and british officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, have been involved in discussions about the possible deployment of these weapons. However, british Prime minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden have delayed any decision, with US officials concerned about the impact on their missile stocks and the limited effect on Ukraine’s campaign.
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Balasahana Suresh

15/09/2024 12:44 PM