Ukrainian federal government states this was the very first one-for-one exchange of caught soldiers considering that Russia’s intrusion started a month earlier.

Published On 25 Mar 2022

Ukrainian and Russian forces have actually exchanged detainees, in what Ukraine stated was the very first soldier-for-soldier swap considering that Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, bought soldiers into the neighbouring nation late last month.

” Following an order from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the very first fully-fledged exchange of detainees of war has actually happened,” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk composed on Facebook on Thursday.

” In exchange for 10 recorded occupiers we saved 10 of our servicemen,” she stated, describing Russian and Ukrainian soldiers.

Vereshchuk likewise stated 11 Russian civilian seafarers saved near the Black Sea port city of Odesa were exchanged for 19 Ukrainian civilian ship team members held by Russia’s forces.

INTERACTIVE- Ukraine Russia head-to-head
( Al Jazeera)

Tatiana Moskalkova, the Russian human rights ombudsman, validated both exchanges.

Russia’s foreign ministry stated previously today that Moscow had actually finished 2 detainee swaps given that it introduced its intrusion of Ukraine on February 24.

Moskalkova stated 9 Russian detainees were exchanged for the mayor of Melitopol, a city in southeastern Ukraine recorded by the Russian army.

After his release, Ivan Fyodorov stated Russian forces had actually tossed him in a cell and pressed him for hours, while he heard individuals being tortured in neighbouring cells. He stated they desired him to resign so that a Russian-appointed “mayor” might take control of his responsibilities.

Vereshchuk on Wednesday validated the Melitopol swap however rejected any others had actually occurred.

In a video address in the future Thursday, Vereshchuk likewise stated the Russians have actually taken 14 Ukrainian authorities detainee, mainly regional political leaders or municipal government agents, and required their release, stating that taking civilians slave protested worldwide law.

Citing the testament of Ukrainians launched from Russian-occupied locations, Vereshchuk likewise implicated Russian soldiers of abuse and vowed to prosecute such criminal offenses in The Hague.

” All members of the Russian military listening to my declaration ought to understand that we will not let anybody go unpunished,” she stated.

The Russian intrusion, which President Vladimir Putin calls a “unique operation”, has actually eliminated countless individuals, sent out 3.6 million abroad and driven majority of Ukraine’s kids from their houses, according to the United Nations.



Al Jazeera and news firms