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Military operation in Ukraine

IN BRIEF: Detailing '205-for-205' prisoner swap between Russia, Ukraine

The Russian Defense Ministry noted that the United Arab Emirates provided humanitarian mediation for the return of Russian service members from Ukrainian captivity

© Russian Defense Ministry/TASS

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. Russia has returned 205 Russian servicemen from territory controlled by the Kiev regime, and 205 Ukrainian prisoners of war were transferred in exchange, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

TASS has compiled the main information that is known so far.

About the exchange

- On May 15, 205 Russian service members were returned from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

- 205 Ukrainian prisoners of war were transferred in exchange.

- The Russian soldiers are currently staying in Belarus, where they are receiving the necessary psychological and medical assistance.

- The Russian Defense Ministry noted that the United Arab Emirates provided humanitarian mediation for the return of Russian service members from Ukrainian captivity.

- The ministry added that all Russian service members returned from captivity will be transported to Russia for treatment and rehabilitation at the Defense Ministry’s medical facilities.

Exchange initiative

- On May 8, Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov announced that Russia had agreed to US President Donald Trump’s initiative to establish a ceasefire with Ukraine from May 9 to 11 and conduct a "thousand-for-thousand" prisoner exchange with Ukraine during this period.

Preparing for the exchange

- On May 9, Ushakov noted that the relevant services of Russia and Ukraine were actively working on prisoner lists, and if an agreement was reached, the exchange would begin.

- At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin, answering reporters’ questions, stated that Russia itself was preparing for the prisoner exchange with Ukraine and therefore supported Trump’s proposal.

- On May 11, Vladimir Zelensky said that Ukraine had handed over to the US the lists of Ukrainian prisoners for exchange with Russia.

- On May 14, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow and Kiev were preparing for a prisoner exchange and were coordinating the lists.

- He noted that the work was proceeding very swiftly.

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Military operation in Ukraine

Military operation in Ukraine

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