Ukraine says 3rd prisoner exchange with Russia underway

Ukrainian forces detain servicemen of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic who were captured during the morning attack on the town of Schast’ye, near the eastern Ukraine city of Lugansk, on February 24, 2022. AFP

KYIV—Ukraine on Saturday said 12 Ukrainian soldiers and 14 civilians were returning home following a prisoner exchange with Russia.

“On the order of President (Volodymyr) Zelensky, the third prisoner exchange took place today. 12 of our servicemen are returning home, including one female officer,” Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on Telegram.

Fourteen civilians including nine women were also on their way home, she added.

She did not say how many Russians had been exchanged for the Ukrainians.

Russia’s rights ombudsman Tatiana Moskalkova said 14 Russian sailors had returned home Saturday.

“Thanks to the coordinated actions of Russian military staff, 14 sailors from the Azov Concord civilian vessel have been released and are being evacuated to a safe space,” she said.

Moskalkova claimed Ukraine had since the start of the war on February 24 been “holding the crew of the ship in the port of Mariupol, where the exit to the sea was mined”.

Mariupol, a key port on the Azov Sea, has suffered the worst destruction and death toll since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion.

Two other exchanges of soldiers and civilians have taken place between Kyiv and Moscow since the start of the conflict.

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