Kyiv, Moscow swap prisoners of war ahead of ceasefire

Russian prisoners of war with their flag
The prison swap has come before a 32-hour ‌Orthodox Easter ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. -EPA

Ukraine and Russia have exchanged 175 prisoners of war each in ‌their latest swap, officials from both countries say, as they prepare to ‌start a ceasefire to mark Orthodox Easter.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine had ‌brought home 175 servicemen and seven civilians from Russian captivity. 

He said the Ukrainian servicemen had defended the country on different fronts from the east to the south and most of them had been in captivity in ‌Russia since ‌2022.

Russia's Defence ⁠Ministry said the United Arab Emirates had mediated the ​exchange. 

Russia took back 175 servicemen and also seven civilians originally from the Kursk region, the ministry said.

During more than four years of war, Kyiv and Moscow have carried out regular prisoner exchanges. 

They are among the few concrete ⁠results to emerge from several rounds ‌of ​US-brokered peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, which remain stalled over the issue ​of territory.

As ‌both Ukraine and Russia celebrate Orthodox Easter this weekend, the countries ​have agreed on a short, 32-hour ceasefire to mark the holiday.

Russia said the ceasefire would begin on ​Saturday afternoon ​and end at midnight on ​Sunday.

Zelenskiy said he and his army ‌chief had discussed the procedures for Ukrainian troops under the ceasefire.

"The absence of Russian strikes in the air, on land, and at sea will mean no response from our side," he said.

"A ceasefire at ​Easter could also become the beginning of real movement toward peace – ​our side has ⁠made the corresponding proposal."