The United Arab Emirates has successfully brokered the biggest prisoner exchange yet between Russia and Ukraine, facilitating the release of 538 war captives, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
This marks the 14th such exchange made possible through UAE’s mediation since the beginning of the conflict. The latest swap saw 246 Ukrainian captives and 31 wounded soldiers return home, while Russia received 246 of its prisoners of war along with 15 wounded servicemen.
The MoFA thanked both Moscow and Kyiv for their cooperation in ensuring the successful handover. “The UAE reiterates its commitment to supporting efforts aimed at reducing tensions and advancing dialogue,” the ministry said, emphasizing that peaceful negotiation remains the key to ending the war and lessening its humanitarian impact.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation on social media, writing: “I am especially grateful to the United Arab Emirates for their mediation.”
With this latest development, the total number of prisoners exchanged through UAE-led initiatives has reached 3,771.
