Russia and Ukraine Exchange 206 Prisoners of War in UAE-Mediated Deal

Comprehensive report by our reporter Tang Zhongbao, September 16, 2024

Russia and Ukraine, amidst a fierce war, exchanged prisoners for two consecutive days over the past weekend under the mediation of the United Arab Emirates. A total of 206 prisoners of war from both sides participated in the exchange and were released.

According to media reports, Ukraine and Russia exchanged 206 prisoners of war, 103 on each side, in an agreement brokered by the United Arab Emirates last Saturday. The warring parties conducted rare coordination against the backdrop of Russia’s advancement in eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Telegram that “a group of 103 servicemen returned to Ukraine from Russian custody,” including 82 soldiers and NCOs and 21 officers.

The Russian army launched an airstrike involving dozens of drones on several Ukrainian states, including the capital Kiev, on Friday night and early Saturday morning.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that 72 of the 76 Shahed drones launched by Russia were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses.

Zelenskiy and other Ukrainian officials have been pressuring the United States and other allies to allow Ukrainian forces to strike deep into Russia with long-range weapons provided by Western countries. Zelenskiy posted on Telegram on Saturday, reiterating the importance of this request to protect the lives and property of the Ukrainian people.

Reuters previously quoted sources as saying that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s meeting with US President Joe Biden in Washington last Friday could make it possible for the United States to use Western long-range weapons against Ukraine, especially the Storm Shadow cruise missiles provided by the United Kingdom with a range of up to 250 kilometers, giving the green light to strike deep into and into the Russian mainland.

A Western source told Reuters that the decision to lift NATO restrictions on Ukraine using Western long-range weapons to attack Russian territory could be announced when the UN General Assembly opens on September 24.

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