Ukraine – Russia exchange prisoners for the 5th phase
Ukraine said it had received 60 soldiers and 16 civilians in its fifth prisoner exchange with Moscow since the conflict broke out.
“Among the servicemen we received today are 10 officers. 16 civilians are also returning home,” Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk said on Telegram today.
This is the fifth prisoner exchange between Kiev and Moscow since February 24, she said Russia began a military operation in Ukraine. However, as in previous prisoner exchanges, Deputy Prime Minister Vereshchuk did not disclose the number of Russian prisoners to be handed over.
Russia has not commented on the latest prisoner exchange.
Ukrainian forces in the Lugansk region, eastern Ukraine on March 8. Image: AFP.
Last week, Kiev said it had returned 30 prisoners by order of the President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky has also offered to exchange tycoon Viktor Medvedchuk, who was arrested after escaping house arrest, with Ukrainians arrested by the Russian side, but has not been accepted.
On April 18, Ukraine’s security services released a video of Medvedchuk asking the President Vladimir Putin and Mr. Zelensky agreed to evacuate civilians and troops from the southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.
The latest prisoner exchange comes as Russia announces the start of the second phase of its operation to “liberate” eastern Ukraine and restored peaceful life, but did not seek regime change in the country.
Lugansk region governor Serhiy Gaidai said Russian forces had taken control of the eastern city of Kreminna. Kreminna, a city of more than 18,000 people located about 100 kilometers southeast of the capital Kiev, appears to be the first target to fall in the new phase of Russia’s campaign.
Thanh Tam (According to AFP)
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