Ukraine war latest: Kyiv and Moscow exchange prisoners of war

Ukrainian and Russian armed forces on Thursday carried out the primary alternate of prisoners of battle since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine one month in the past.

“At present, by order of President [Volodymyr] Zelensky, the primary full-fledged alternate of prisoners of battle occurred. In alternate for 10 captured occupiers, we pulled out 10 of our servicemen,” Iryna Vereshchuk, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, mentioned in a Fb submit.

“Additionally, as we speak we despatched 11 Russian civilian sailors to the Russians, whom we rescued from a sunken ship close to Odessa,” Vereshchuk mentioned. “Because of this alternate, 19 Ukrainian civilian sailors are returning dwelling from the rescue ship Sapphire, which was captured by the occupiers whereas making an attempt to take our troops from Snake island. Below the phrases of the alternate, the lifeboat itself may even be returned to Ukraine and despatched to a port in Turkey.”

Russia’s human rights commissioner confirmed a prisoner swap had taken place, Interfax reported on Thursday.

“I can verify the alternate of 10 Russian servicemen detained in Ukraine for 10 Ukrainian servicemen,” Tatyana Moskalkova instructed Interfax on Thursday.

Moskalkova additionally confirmed the alternate of the Ukrainian and Russian civilian sailors.

The event comes someday after Ukrainian officers denied claims by Russia that each side had already carried out two exchanges of troopers captured by both sides.

Earlier this month, Ukraine transferred a bunch of Russian troopers in alternate for Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of the Russian-occupied southern metropolis of Mariupol. Fedorov was taken hostage by Russian armed forces after metropolis residents held each day pro-Ukrainian protests in opposition to Russia’s invasion.

Ukrainian officers declare Thursday’s alternate was the primary soldier-for-soldier swap by each side.