The swap was carried out via UAE mediation, according to the Defense Ministry
Published 26 Jun, 2026 12:51
| Updated 26 Jun, 2026 13:55© RT
Russia and Ukraine have conducted another prisoner of war exchange, with 160 servicemen returned to each side, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has announced.
In a statement on Friday, the ministry said “160 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by the Kiev regime.” In exchange, 160 Ukrainian Armed Forces prisoners of war were released.
The returned Russian servicemen are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving psychological and medical assistance, the ministry said. Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova is working with the freed soldiers.
The servicemen will later be transported to Russia for further treatment and rehabilitation.
The exchange was carried out with mediation from the United Arab Emirates, the Defense Ministry said.
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The latest swap follows a series of exchanges between Russia and Ukraine in recent months. On June 5, the two sides exchanged 185 servicemen each, also with UAE mediation. On May 15, Moscow and Kiev exchanged another 205 POWs each.
The May swap had been described as the first stage of a wider 1,000-for-1,000 exchange, which was announced following US-mediated contacts around Russia’s Victory Day commemorations.
Russia and Ukraine have continued to exchange prisoners and the bodies of fallen soldiers despite the ongoing conflict. The UAE has repeatedly acted as a mediator in humanitarian efforts between the two sides.
