Russia and Ukraine swap 200 captured troops
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In a New Year prisoner swap, Russia and Ukraine release 200 captured POWs.
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Russian reservists attend a ceremony before departing for the warzone. (Reuters)
On Saturday, Russia and Ukraine announced the release of more than 200 detained soldiers, the latest prisoner swap between the two sides in the 10-month war.
Russia's Defense Ministry reported Ukraine freed 82 Russian soldiers, while Ukraine's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said Russia released over 140 Ukrainian service personnel.
Yermak acknowledged on his Telegram page that the Ukrainian prisoners were 132 men and eight women.
As a result of Russia’s open diplomacy, Kiev and Moscow have exchanged hundreds of detained soldiers in many rounds of prisoner swaps in recent months.
It is worth noting that a prisoner swap between American Basketball celebrity Britney Griner and Russian businessman Viktor Bout who was serving a 25-year sentence in the US over alleged arms dealings was concluded last month.
The landmark swap has been categorically slammed by many in the US as the worst trade in history, not only because Bout's charges were considered more offensive than Griner, but also because another US prisoner, Paul Whelan, was considered more worthy than Griner of being released.
