Russia, Ukraine exchange prisoners for first time after Il-76 plane downing

Ukrainian soldiers return home in a prisoner exchange with Russia on January 31 (Photo: X/Volodymyr Zelensky).

Russia's Defense Ministry said 195 of its soldiers had been released, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 207 people - both soldiers and civilians - had returned to Ukraine.

"Our compatriots are back. 207 people. We will bring them home at all costs," Mr. Zelensky said on the social network X.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said "195 Russian servicemen... have returned home".

The prisoner swap comes amid uncertainty surrounding the downing of a Russian Il-76 military transport plane in a field near the western border with Ukraine.

Moscow said the Il-76 was shot down by Kiev forces while carrying 65 Ukrainian soldiers to a scheduled prisoner exchange.

The downing of the Il-76 plane last week raised doubts about the future of the prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine (Photo: X/Volodymyr Zelensky).

Kiev did not completely deny the information provided by Moscow but questioned whether the plane was actually carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war. Kiev also called on Moscow to release photos of the bodies or provide other evidence.

The downing of the plane has raised doubts about the future of prisoner exchanges between the two countries.

Ukraine said the January 31 prisoner exchange was the 50th since Russia launched a "special military operation" in February 2022.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/nga-ukraine-lan-dau-trao-doi-tu-binh-sau-vu-ban-roi-may-bay-il-76-20240131204223509.htm