Russia and Ukraine have made an extensive exchange of prisoners, each party released 246 soldiers and injured prisoners as a gesture of goodwill.
Russia and Ukraine made an extensive exchange of prisoners on Saturday, both parties handing over more than 240 prisoners, the Russian Ministry of Defense said. According to the AFP report, TASR reports this.
“On April 19 … 246 Russian soldiers returned from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime. In return, 246 Ukrainian prisoners of Ukrainian war was handed over. As a gesture of goodwill, 31 wounded prisoners were released in exchange for 15 injured Russian prisoners who need urgent medical care.”
“Our people are at home – one of the best news they can be. The other 277 fighters returned home from Russian captivity, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Greenyr Greeny on Platform X said” Thank you to all who allowed this return of our people.
Overall, 4552 people – warriors and civilians – have returned from Russian captivity since the beginning of the war, the president specified. “We think of everyone who stays in captivity … We have to bring them all home,” added the Ukrainian head of state.
Relaxed Russian soldiers are currently in Belarus, but will soon be taken to Russia, where they will undergo treatment and rehabilitation, the Ministry of Defense said, according to TASS.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Saturday that the Russian side is declared a “Easter ceasefire” in Ukraine. Moscow said it stopped fighting from Saturday 5 pm CET until Sunday 23.00 CET. “I command that all military events stop for this period,” Putin said at a meeting with the Chief of General Staff Valeria Gerasimov. “We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example. At the same time, our units must be prepared to reflect a possible violation of the ceasefire and provocation by the enemy,” added the Kremlin chief.
