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The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday that 63 Russian prisoners of war were released on Saturday as a result of a complicated negotiation process with Ukraine.

According to the ministry cited by the Interfax news agency, the group of Russian servicemen released included “sensitive” individuals.

The Russian Defense Forces confirmed that the released prisoners were in the territory of the Russian Federation. They are provided with the necessary psychological and medical assistance. as well as the opportunity to contact their relatives.

Russia and Ukraine have conducted several prisoner exchanges, most recently on 8 January. It included hundreds of captives from both sides during the war, which is nearing the end of its first year.

UAE president’s efforts

This new mediation is one of the results of HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed’s visit to Russia last October. His Highness’s efforts and the UAE’s communication with the Ukrainian party to activate the negotiation processes. that led to the release of the prisoners, which is enhancing the humanitarian aspect and easing tensions.

The UAE, through its leadership and neutrality, is also making its mediation and sponsorship of negotiations effective, easing tensions between states and peoples in crisis.

The humanitarian efforts of HH the President of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed have been successful. During the visit to Russia and the contact with Ukraine led to the new prisoner release.

Russian President’s praise

According to the Interfax news agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the role of the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. in resolving humanitarian issues in Ukraine, including the exchange of prisoners.

The UAE is ready to assume the role of mediator in Ukraine, Putin added. The president of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, is doing so.

Ukraine praises bin Zayed’s efforts

Andriy Yermak, director of the Ukrainian president’s office, said 116 Ukrainians had been repatriated.

“We were able to bring back 116 of our people who are defenders of Mariupol, warriors of Kherson, snipers of Bakhmut (Front) and other of our heroes”, Yermak wrote on Telegram.

“The bodies of two British aid workers, Andrew Bajshaw and Chris Barry, have been returned to Ukraine”, Yermak said.

Barry’s family had previously said that Bajshaw and Barry were killed during an attempt to evacuate residents of eastern Ukraine last January.

The Ukrainian official added: “87 soldiers from the Ukrainian armed forces, two of them from special operations forces, eight soldiers from the regional forces, seven from the national guard, six from the national police, five from the state border guard, two from the navy and one from the government emergency service.

In addition, Ukrainians recovered the bodies of slain foreign volunteers Christopher Matthew Perry and Andrew Tobias Mathew, as well as the deceased volunteer soldier, a Ukrainian who had served in the French Foreign Legion.