Russia and Ukraine exchange 100 prisoners each after UAE mediation

President Zelenskyy says a total of 3,135 Ukrainians were freed from Russian captivity and hopes exchanges continue.

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 100 prisoners of war (POWs) each following mediation by the United Arab Emirates.

In announcing the exchange as a “success”, the Gulf nation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that it was its third mediation effort between Moscow and Kyiv since December as it called for dialogue and de-escalation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country “will make every effort to continue prisoner exchanges”, in a Friday post on X.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence, in a post on Telegram, noted the UAE’s “humanitarian mediation”.