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| Russia and Ukraine swap hundreds of prisoners of war | |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The BBC's Will Vernon reports: "You can just see the emotion on their faces" | The BBC's Will Vernon reports: "You can just see the emotion on their faces" |
| Russia and Ukraine have exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). | Russia and Ukraine have exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). |
| The Russian defence ministry said it had swapped 150 Ukrainian soldiers held captive for an equal number of Russian troops. | The Russian defence ministry said it had swapped 150 Ukrainian soldiers held captive for an equal number of Russian troops. |
| Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy said 189 Ukrainians had returned home. | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy said 189 Ukrainians had returned home. |
| He added that those released included "defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol", the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and Snake Island. | He added that those released included "defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol", the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and Snake Island. |
| The BBC was present as freed Ukrainians were reunited with their loved ones at a location in northern Ukraine. | The BBC was present as freed Ukrainians were reunited with their loved ones at a location in northern Ukraine. |
| Before they arrived, Alina who was waiting for her husband Oleksandr - captured while defending the south-eastern city of Mariupol in 2022 - had tears streaming down her face. | Before they arrived, Alina who was waiting for her husband Oleksandr - captured while defending the south-eastern city of Mariupol in 2022 - had tears streaming down her face. |
| "I have so many emotions," she said "It's been so difficult. I just want to see him." | "I have so many emotions," she said "It's been so difficult. I just want to see him." |
| Released prisoner Anatoliy, who was captured in the south-eastern city of Mariupol in 2022, told the BBC he was "overwhelmed by feelings". | Released prisoner Anatoliy, who was captured in the south-eastern city of Mariupol in 2022, told the BBC he was "overwhelmed by feelings". |
| "Thank God this day has come. We're home. Now we're going to support Ukraine with everything we've got," he said. | "Thank God this day has come. We're home. Now we're going to support Ukraine with everything we've got," he said. |
| Another released prisoner, Ihor, told the BBC: "I'm very happy to return to my own country, to my own land. I have no words to say what I feel now." | Another released prisoner, Ihor, told the BBC: "I'm very happy to return to my own country, to my own land. I have no words to say what I feel now." |
| The Russian defence ministry meanwhile said newly-released Russian troops were in Belarus and were being given medical assistance and the chance to contact their families. | The Russian defence ministry meanwhile said newly-released Russian troops were in Belarus and were being given medical assistance and the chance to contact their families. |
| In a video posted by Russian human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova, soldiers were seen gathered in front of coaches in military and winter clothing. | In a video posted by Russian human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova, soldiers were seen gathered in front of coaches in military and winter clothing. |
| "Very soon our guys will hug their families and friends and celebrate the New Year on their native land," she said in an accompanying message. | "Very soon our guys will hug their families and friends and celebrate the New Year on their native land," she said in an accompanying message. |
| Tatyana Moskalkova said she spoke to Russian prisoners of war who were released as part of the exchange | Tatyana Moskalkova said she spoke to Russian prisoners of war who were released as part of the exchange |
| This was the 59th prisoner exchange since the full-scale invasion began and one of the biggest so far. | This was the 59th prisoner exchange since the full-scale invasion began and one of the biggest so far. |
| On the Ukrainian side, those released included soldiers, border guards, National Guardsmen and Navy servicemen. Many had been in captivity for more than two-and-a-half years, and Ukrainian officials said some had returned with serious illnesses and injuries. | On the Ukrainian side, those released included soldiers, border guards, National Guardsmen and Navy servicemen. Many had been in captivity for more than two-and-a-half years, and Ukrainian officials said some had returned with serious illnesses and injuries. |
| For some families, the agonising uncertainty has come to an end. But thousands more Ukrainians remain in captivity in Russia and occupied parts of Ukraine. | For some families, the agonising uncertainty has come to an end. But thousands more Ukrainians remain in captivity in Russia and occupied parts of Ukraine. |
| Officials in Kyiv told the BBC that negotiations about prisoner exchanges have become more difficult in recent months - ever since Russian forces began to make significant advances on the battlefield. | Officials in Kyiv told the BBC that negotiations about prisoner exchanges have become more difficult in recent months - ever since Russian forces began to make significant advances on the battlefield. |
| Ukraine does not publish numbers of prisoners of war being held by Russia, but the total is thought to be more than 8,000. | Ukraine does not publish numbers of prisoners of war being held by Russia, but the total is thought to be more than 8,000. |
| Denys Prokopenko, commander of Ukraine's 12th Special Forces Azov Brigade that defended Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant before it was captured by Russian forces, said on X that 11 of the brigade's men were returned in the swap. | |
| Prokopenko was released in a prisoner swap in 2022. | Prokopenko was released in a prisoner swap in 2022. |
| Zelensky said two civilians captured in Mariupol were also among those released. | Zelensky said two civilians captured in Mariupol were also among those released. |
| "We are working to free everyone from Russian captivity. This is our goal. We do not forget anyone," Zelensky said. He posted photos showing some of the swapped men sitting on a coach holding up yellow-and-blue Ukrainian flags. | "We are working to free everyone from Russian captivity. This is our goal. We do not forget anyone," Zelensky said. He posted photos showing some of the swapped men sitting on a coach holding up yellow-and-blue Ukrainian flags. |
| In May 2022, Russia declared victory after a months-long battle to conquer the south-eastern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, with the last fighters defending the Azovstal steel plant having surrendered. | In May 2022, Russia declared victory after a months-long battle to conquer the south-eastern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, with the last fighters defending the Azovstal steel plant having surrendered. |
| Russian troops seized Chernobyl in the country's north-west at the beginning of their invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but later handed back control of the plant to its employees. | Russian troops seized Chernobyl in the country's north-west at the beginning of their invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but later handed back control of the plant to its employees. |
| Snake Island in the Black Sea was also seized in 2022 and the Ukrainian soldiers were taken prisoner, but later exchanged for Russian captives. | Snake Island in the Black Sea was also seized in 2022 and the Ukrainian soldiers were taken prisoner, but later exchanged for Russian captives. |