Ukraine and Russia complete first prisoner swap since plane crash

Russia and Ukraine say they have exchanged captured soldiers – the first such swap since the crash of a Russian plane that Moscow claimed had 65 prisoners of war (PoWs) on board.

Russia’s military says each side got 195 soldiers back on Wednesday.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky says 207 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians were returned.

Kyiv has questioned Moscow’s claim that Ukrainian PoWs were on the plane that was shot down by Ukraine last week.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday claimed that an examination had established that the Il-76 military transport plane was downed by an American Patriot system in the western Belgorod region.

The Russian military earlier claimed that the 65 Ukrainian soldiers had been on the plane heading to the area for a prisoner exchange.

Six Russian crew members and three officials escorting the PoWs were also on board, the military said, adding that there were no survivors.

Mr Putin and the defence ministry provided no evidence to back up their claims.

Ukraine says it is investigating.

In a brief statement on Wednesday, the Russian defence ministry said the latest prisoner exchanged was completed after negotiations with Kyiv.

“The released military personnel will be transported by military transport aircraft… to Moscow for treatment and rehabilitation.

“All those released are provided with the necessary medical and psychological assistance,” the statement said, adding that the United Arab Emirates were involved in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, President Zelensky wrote in a post on social media: “Our people are back. 207 of them. We return them home no matter what.

“We remember every Ukrainian in captivity. Both warriors and civilians. We must bring all of them back,” he said, thanking Ukraine’s top security officials for making the latest exchange possible.

A video filmed by the Ukrainian authorities shows the released men tumbling off buses with shouts of “Glory to Ukraine!”

The men are wearing Russian prison uniforms – their heads are close-shaven – and many look very thin after months, or in some case up to two years in captivity. Some cry – as they talk to relatives by phone.

It is the 50th PoW exchange since President Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.