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Russian Soldiers Transferred to Belarus Following POW Exchange
Explore the recent transfer of Russian soldiers to Belarus following a significant POW exchange. Discover the implications of this move, insights into the exchange process, and its impact on regional dynamics.
The Russian Defence Ministry announced on Saturday that a group of its soldiers has been successfully handed over in neighboring Belarus. The ministry’s statement emphasized, “Currently, all Russian military personnel are on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, where they are receiving the necessary psychological and medical assistance, as well as the opportunity to contact their relatives.”
According to the Russian state news agency ITAR-TASS, the latest prisoner exchange was once again facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, marking the 56th such operation since Russia initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In a video shared on social media platform X, the 103 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were returned appeared visibly thin and in distressing condition after enduring weeks of captivity in Russia. Many of these individuals have suffered serious injuries and require immediate medical attention due to the conditions they faced while imprisoned.
Among the released servicemen, many played crucial roles in the defense of several key locations, including:
- Mariupol
- Donetsk
- Luhansk
- Zaporizhzhia
- Kherson
- Kharkiv
- Kyiv
Notably, among those released are two security guards from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, highlighting the diverse backgrounds of the individuals involved in this exchange.
Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, a total of 3,672 Ukrainians have been successfully returned, underscoring the ongoing efforts and complexities involved in these negotiations.