On Tuesday, Russia and Ukraine confirmed they had exchanged 60 prisoners of war on each side in the latest prisoner swap.
The Russian defence ministry added that the 60 freed Russian soldiers would be flown to Moscow to receive medical care and psychological support. In return, Ukraine would receiver 60 prisoners as well, head of the Office of the Ukrainian president, Andrii Yermak confirmed.
Yermak hailed the returning Ukrainians as heroes and said they included dozens who had held out in the city of Mariupol – including the besieged Azovstal steelworks – until Russia forced its surrender in May.
“We continue to return the defenders of Mariupol – in today’s ‘list of 60’ there are 34 of them, including 14 from Azovstal. Some are wounded, and will receive all the necessary help in Ukraine,” Yermak said.
This exchange follows on from last week’s when 50 Russian and 50 Ukrainian soldiers were exchanged.
