Russia confirms swap of 144 PoWs with Ukraine
Defense Ministry says almost all Russian captives were either wounded or severely wounded
MOSCOW
The Russian Defense Ministry on Thursday confirmed the swap of 144 prisoners of war with Ukraine.
Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said 144 Russian and Donbas servicemen were exchanged for 144 Ukrainian servicemen on Wednesday.
The swap was carried out on the direct instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin because the “lives, health and release of our servicemen, fighters of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, who make up the majority of those returned, is most important,” he said.
Almost all Russian captives were either wounded or severely wounded, and have been provided with medical assistance, he added.
The total number of captured or surrendered Ukrainian servicemen exceeds 6,000, according to Konashenkov.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the exchange on Wednesday evening.
