Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 185 prisoners of war each in the latest prisoner swap between the two sides, according to statements from Russian authorities.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense said 185 Russian servicemen were returned from territories under Ukrainian control, while 185 Ukrainian soldiers were handed back as part of the exchange.

Russian authorities stated that the returned servicemen are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving medical and psychological support before being transferred to Russia.

The ministry added that the exchange was carried out through mediation efforts by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has repeatedly facilitated prisoner swaps between Moscow and Kyiv.

The exchange is reported to be part of broader humanitarian arrangements between the two sides, as prisoner exchanges remain among the few areas where communication channels between Russia and Ukraine continue to function despite ongoing hostilities.

Ukrainian officials also described the swap as part of a wider prisoner exchange framework that has involved multiple stages in recent months.

Prisoner exchanges have continued intermittently throughout the conflict, often with mediation by third countries seeking to maintain humanitarian channels between the two sides. (ILKHA