The Russian-installed head of eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, announced the completion of the latest in a series of prisoner swaps between Moscow and Kyiv on Thursday.
According to Pushilin, 107 captured troops on both sides were swapped in what was the second prisoner exchange between the warring militaries in just over a week.
"Out of the total number of those released, 65 are from the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. Soon they will be able to hug their loved ones,” Pushilin wrote on his Telegram channel Thursday.
Neither Kyiv nor Moscow has officially commented on the exchange.
The swap comes days after 52 Russian troops were exchanged for 52 Ukrainian troops, including two members of Ukraine’s Azov Regiment, which became famous for its resistance to Russian forces during the Siege of Mariupol.
The continuing exchange of prisoners is one of the only matters that Moscow and Kyiv continue to discuss since both sides ditched peace talks in March in favor of settling in for a long war.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
