Russia and Ukraine completed the first prisoner swap since the turn of the year. “On January 8, 50 Russian soldiers were killed as a result of the negotiation processwho were in mortal danger while in captivity, were brought back from the territory under the control of the Kiev regime,” the Russian Defense Ministry announced on its Telegram channel on Sunday. Shortly thereafter, the Ukrainian side confirmed the exchange.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, its own prisoners of war have already been flown to Moscow on a military plane for treatment and rehabilitation. There is no further information about the Russian soldiers.
Kyiv, on the other hand, reported that on its own side 33 officers and 17 ranks were released. “We are bringing back people who were taken prisoner at Chernobyl NPP, our defenders from Mariupol, our guys from the Donetsk region in the Bakhmut area, as well as from the Kiev region, Chernihiv, Kherson and other regions where there was fighting,” commented the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak the exchange.