Russia, Ukraine exchange 50 soldiers each in prisoner swap

According to media reports, both Russia and Ukraine staged a prisoner exchange on Sunday, with a total of 100 troops returning to their home countries.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the diplomatic process resulted in the repatriation of 50 Russian servicemen who had been kidnapped by Ukraine. According to reports, this was the 36th exchange between the two countries since the war between Russia and Ukraine began on February 24.

Meanwhile, Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, announced that 50 Ukrainian troops kidnapped by Russia had been returned to Ukraine.

Yermak stated in a statement that Ukraine repatriated the persons who were arrested in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Mariupol, Kherson, Kyiv, and other locations.

He emphasised that this was not the final exchange between the two countries, and that their goal is to return all Ukrainians.

In a remark, Andriy Yermak stated “We returned the individuals who were captured at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, as well as the defenders of Mariupol, the guys from the Donetsk direction, from near Bakhmut, as well as from Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kherson, and other districts.”

He went on to say “This is not the end of the conversation. Our mission is to repatriate all of our people, and we shall do so.”

Meanwhile, the Russian-declared cease-fire expired at midnight on Saturday (local time). According to regional military administration’s chief, Oleh Syniehubov, two missile attacks were reported in Kharkiv, killing one civilian on Saturday. The truce was declared from noon on Friday to midnight on Saturday.