The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed on Thursday that Russian troops have taken control of Kurdyumovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).

"As a result of offensive operations carried out by Russian forces, the Kurdyumovka settlement in the Donetsk People’s Republic was fully liberated," the Ministry announced in a statement.

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the liberation of Andreyevka, Belogorovka, and Pershe Travnya in the DPR.

50 Russian POWs return from Kiev-controlled areas in prisoner swap

In a related context, the Russian ministry also announced that 50 Russian prisoners of war (POW) have returned from Kiev-controlled areas following negotiations.

"On December 1 this year, 50 Russian servicemen who faced mortal danger in captivity have been brought back from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime as a result of the negotiating process," the Ministry confirmed.

The statement indicated that military transport planes from the Russian Aerospace Forces will deliver all the released soldiers to Moscow for medical treatment and recovery at the Defense Ministry’s medical institutions.

It added that all the released soldiers are receiving the required medical and psychological assistance.

On his part, Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's Presidential Administration, confirmed the release of 50 Ukrainian soldiers, adding that the exchanges of POWs would continue "until the liberation of the last Ukrainian."

The previous prisoner swap between the Russian and the Ukrainian sides took place on November 26 when nine Russian soldiers were returned from Kiev-controlled areas.

Moscow sends letter to UN regarding Ukraine execution of Russian POWs

It is noteworthy that in mid-November, Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy stated that Moscow sent a letter to UN Chief Antonio Guterres regarding "war crimes" committed by Ukrainian forces against Russian prisoners of war.

Polyanskiy stated that he requested Guterres to "circulate it [the letter] as an official document of the UN Security Council and General Assembly," adding that Ukraine "must be held accountable for its war crimes."

The Russian Defense Ministry had said that the Ukrainian armed forces executed more than 10 Russian POWs, shooting them in the head at point blank.

Conditions of Ukraine POWs fit Geneva Convention

The Russian Ministry underlined that while Kiev's forces torture and murder their Russian counterparts, Ukrainian soldiers that surrender are being held in accordance with all the requirements of the Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War.

The Ministry pointed out that "unlike the militants of the Kiev regime," Russia complies with the provisions of the Geneva Convention on POWs.