Ukraine negotiated the release of 144 of its soldiers in the largest exchange of prisoners of war on Wednesday.
“144 Ukrainian warriors have been liberated from Russian prisons via an exchange mechanism. 95 of them participated in the defense of Mariupol,” the Defence of Ukraine said in a tweet. “🇺🇦 will fight for every single one of our service members.”
“This is the largest exchange since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion,” the Kyiv intelligence agency said.
However, Denis Pushilin, the head of the pro-Russia self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine, said it had also secured the release of 144 soldiers, including fighters and Russian army personnel.
“We handed over to Kyiv the same number of prisoners from Ukrainian armed units, most of whom were wounded,” he said, Al Jazeera reported.
Hundreds more Ukrainians are believed to be held by Russia and its pro-Moscow rebel allies in eastern Ukraine.
Picture Credits: Reuters
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