POWs Arrive in Russia Following Exchange, Officials Say

Ukraine and Russia swapped almost 300 prisoners of war in a breakthrough exchange on Wednesday, September 21, Ukrainian officials said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a total of 215 Ukrainian POWs had been released in the exchange, 188 of which had been captured in the siege of Mariupol. He said a deal had been struck with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for five released commanders, including two Azov Regiment commanders, to live out the remainder of the war in Turkey under the personal protection of Erdogan.

In return, Zelensky said Ukraine released 55 POWs that either “fought against Ukraine” or “betrayed Ukraine”, as well as Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Russia Ukrainian politician who had been arrested for treason.

Footage released by the Russian military’s Zvezda News on Thursday shows what they describe as the first POWs arriving in Russia. Storyful has not confirmed the location of filming.

Ten international POWs were also released by Moscow on Wednesday in a Saudi-brokered deal. Credit: Zvezda News via Storyful

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