Russia and Ukraine conduct new prisoner exchange; Zelenskyy: 'Among those released are soldiers who defended Mariupol'

Russia and Ukraine carried out a significant prisoner exchange on Wednesday, August 19, with both nations releasing 103 military personnel each. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the repatriation of 103 Russian soldiers, stating they were handed over in exchange for 103 Ukrainian prisoners of war.

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One hundred and three Russian soldiers were repatriated. In exchange, 103 prisoners of war from the Ukrainian armed forces were handed over.

According to the Russian statement, the returning Russian soldiers are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving medical and psychological care before being transferred back to Russia. The United Arab Emirates played a mediating role in facilitating the exchange, continuing its involvement from previous swaps.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the return of Ukrainian soldiers from "Russian captivity" via X, formerly Twitter. He highlighted that the freed individuals include members of the Armed Forces, Border Guard Service, and National Guard. Zelenskyy specifically mentioned soldiers who defended Mariupol and fought in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Dnipro, and Sumy regions.

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Among those released are soldiers who defended Ukraine in Mariupol and in the areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Dnipro and Sumy.

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to all military personnel contributing to Ukraine's "exchange fund" and to the team working daily to secure the release of Ukrainians. He affirmed that Ukraine remembers every man and woman still held captive and is doing everything possible to bring them home. Previous exchanges this year have seen hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers returned, but Kyiv estimates over 15,000 Ukrainian civilians are held in Russian prisons, with approximately 7,000 Ukrainian soldiers also in captivity as of February.

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I am grateful to the team that works every day to ensure the release of our people. We remember every man and woman who is still in captivity. We are doing everything possible to bring all our people home.