Ukraine, Russia swap 175 servicemen each ahead of Easter ceasefire

KYIV: Ukraine and Russia exchanged 175 prisoners of war each on Saturday in their latest swap, officials from both countries said, as they prepare to start a ceasefire to mark Orthodox Easter. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine had brought home 175 servicemen and seven civilians from Russian captivity.

He said the Ukrainian servicemen had defended the country on different fronts from the ‌east to the ⁠south ⁠and most of them had been in captivity in Russia since 2022. Russia's Defence Ministry said the United Arab Emirates had mediated the exchange. Russia took back175 servicemen andalso seven civilians originally from the Kursk region, the ministry said. Reuters TV footage showed returning Ukrainians arriving in a bus to a rousing welcome from relatives, many carrying photos of prisoners of war, some yet to be released. Some had difficulty walking and were transported by ambulance.

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Andrii Yusov, a Ukrainian defence intelligence representative, said ⁠163 of those ‌freed had been held since 2022.

"This is a real success, a very ​significant achievement," Yusov ​said. "It is very hard to imagine what these people have been through ⁠during that time and you can see that the men ​are returning in varying conditions."

During more than four years of war, Kyiv and Moscow have carried out regular exchanges of prisoners of war. They are among the few concrete results to emerge from several rounds of U.S.-brokered peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, which remain stalled over the issue of territory.

Svitlana Shavkun, holding back tears, said she was still awaiting the release of her Ukrainian brother.

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"I have received only one message stating that he has likely ‌been held captive since 31 December 2023," she said. "I have been waiting for two years and four months. I am waiting with all my heart." As both ​Ukraine and ​Russia celebrate Orthodox Easter ⁠this weekend, the countries have agreed on a short, 32-hour ceasefire to mark the holiday. Russia said the ceasefire would begin at 4 p.m. (1300 GMT) on Saturday and end at midnight on Sunday. Zelenskiy said ​he and his army chief had discussed the procedures for Ukrainian troops under the ceasefire.

"The absence of Russian strikes in the air, on land, and at sea will mean no response from our side," he said. "A ceasefire at Easter could also become the beginning of real movement toward peace - our side has made the corresponding proposal."