Russian and Ukrainian authorities confirmed Wednesday a new prisoner exchange under which a total of 70 soldiers and civilians have returned to their respective countries.
As reported by the head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, among those released by Russia are Ukrainians who defended the city of Mariupol, the scene of intense clashes in the early stages of the war.
According to Yermak, Russia has released a total of 22 National Guardsmen, eight border guards, four Navy soldiers and one civilian, whose leg was amputated by the Russian Armed Forces, according to UNIAN agency.
For its part, Russia has also welcomed the release of 35 of its soldiers because, according to the Defense Ministry, they were in danger of death under the captivity of Ukrainian troops, according to the Russian agency TASS.
The Defense Ministry informed that the Russian soldiers will be transported to Moscow by Military Transport aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces and that they will be treated and rehabilitated on the national territory.
Although the end of the war does not seem to be near and Russia and Ukraine have shown hardly any signs of rapprochement, Kiev and Moscow have carried out several prisoner exchanges since the outbreak of the war at the end of February.