Ukraine, Russia swap 175 servicemen each ahead of ceasefire

Ukraine and Russia exchanged 175 prisoners of war each on Saturday, April 11, in their latest swap, ​officials from both countries said, as they prepare to start ‌a ceasefire to mark Orthodox Easter.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had brought home 175 servicemen and seven civilians from Russian captivity. He said the ​Ukrainian servicemen had defended the country on different ​fronts from the east to the south, and most of ⁠them had been in captivity in Russia since 2022.

Russia’s ​Defence Ministry said the United Arab Emirates had mediated the exchange. Russia took ​back 175 servicemen and also seven civilians originally from the Kursk region, the ministry said.

During more than four years of war, Kyiv and Moscow have carried out ​regular POW exchanges. They are among the few concrete ​results to emerge from several rounds of U.S.-brokered peace talks between Ukraine and ‌Russia, ⁠which remain stalled over the issue of territory.

As both Ukraine and Russia celebrate Orthodox Easter this weekend, the countries have agreed on a short, 32-hour ceasefire to mark the holiday.

Russia said the ​ceasefire would begin ​at 4 p.m. (1300 ⁠GMT) on Saturday and end at midnight on Sunday.

Zelenskiy said he and his army ​chief had discussed the procedures for Ukrainian troops under the ​ceasefire.`

“The ⁠absence of Russian strikes in the air, on land, and at sea will mean no response from our side,” he ⁠said

“A ​ceasefire at Easter could also become the ​beginning of real movement toward peace – our side has made the corresponding proposal.”

Source: Reuters