KYIV – Both Ukraine and Russia released 175 military prisoners on Saturday in their most recent exchange, as the warring nations prepared to observe a temporary halt in fighting for Orthodox Easter weekend.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that his country successfully secured the return of 175 soldiers along with seven civilians who had been held in Russian detention. According to Zelenskyy, the returning Ukrainian military personnel had served on various battlefronts spanning from eastern to southern regions, with the majority having been imprisoned in Russia since 2022.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that the United Arab Emirates facilitated the prisoner swap. Moscow received 175 of its servicemen plus seven civilians who originated from the Kursk region, ministry officials stated.
These prisoner exchanges have become routine occurrences throughout the more than four-year conflict between Kyiv and Moscow. Such swaps represent some of the few tangible outcomes from multiple rounds of U.S.-mediated peace negotiations between the two nations, which have reached an impasse over territorial disputes.
With both countries observing Orthodox Easter this weekend, Ukrainian and Russian leadership have agreed to implement a brief 32-hour cessation of hostilities to honor the religious holiday.
Russian officials announced the temporary truce would commence at 4 p.m. local time on Saturday and conclude at midnight Sunday.
Zelenskyy revealed he had coordinated with his military leadership regarding protocols for Ukrainian forces during the ceasefire period.
“The absence of Russian strikes in the air, on land, and at sea will mean no response from our side,” he stated.
“A ceasefire at Easter could also become the beginning of real movement toward peace – our side has made the corresponding proposal,” Zelenskyy added.
