Moscow: Russia and Ukraine have carried out a significant prisoner exchange, with both countries releasing 205 prisoners each as part of a larger agreement.

According to Anadolu Agency, this exchange is a component of a broader 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap deal that was initiated by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Russia's Defense Ministry reported that the United Arab Emirates played a crucial role by providing humanitarian assistance during the return of Russian servicemen from captivity. Currently, the released servicemen are in Belarus, where they are undergoing psychological and medical assistance. The ministry mentioned on the Russian social media platform Max that these servicemen will subsequently be transferred to Russia for further treatment and rehabilitation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared on Telegram that the freed Ukrainian prisoners of war included privates, sergeants, and officers, many of whom had been held in Russian captivity since 2022. He noted that this exchange represents the first stage of the planned 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap.

Last week, Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a three-day ceasefire from Saturday through Monday, along with the 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange. This recent swap follows two previous exchanges conducted in April. The first took place during Orthodox Easter, with each side exchanging 175 servicemen, and the second occurred on April 24, with 193 prisoners exchanged on each side.