Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said nine civilians and personnel from several Ukrainian services were among those returned in Friday’s 540-person exchange with Russia, adding detail about the people involved in the UAE-mediated swap.
The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs said 270 people from each country were exchanged, lifting the total returned through UAE mediation to 8,537. It described the swap as its 27th mediation between the countries.
Zelenskiy said the returnees included nine civilians, personnel from the State Special Transport Service, Navy, Land Forces and Airborne Assault Forces, as well as members of the Territorial Defense Forces, border guards and National Guard members, including Azov warriors. He said most had been held since 2022.
EconoTimes’ earlier account covered the same 270-for-270 exchange, citing a UAE-mediated total of 8,537 people returned. The UAE Foreign Ministry also pledged continued backing for peaceful initiatives and work aimed at easing the war’s impact on refugees and prisoners.
