The centre said those Ukraine sent back to Russia were prisoners captured during Ukraine’s offensive in the Kursk region, which began in late summer and resulted in Kyiv occupying a small chunk of Russian territory.
Russia and Ukraine swap at least 300 prisoners in exchange deal Some of Ukrainians had been held since early days of war, while Russians were captured in Ukraine’s Kursk offensive.
The exchange, the 11th this year, brought the total number of Ukrainian prisoners returned by Russia this year to 1,358, the coordination centre said, but added there were many more remaining in Russia.
Russia and Ukraine have carried out a major prisoner exchange, with at least 150 people from each side returning home before New Year’s Eve, in a swap partly brokered by the United Arab Emirates.
Ukraine’s coordinating centre on exchanges said those returning to Ukraine included 87 soldiers from the army, 43 from the national guard, 33 border guards, 24 from the navy and two civilians.
