Ukraine, Russia hold first full-fledged POW exchange – Vereschuk

17:13, 24.03.2022 1 min read

On Thursday, March 24, the first full-fledged exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) between Ukraine and Russia took place, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Iryna Vereschuk said.

"Today, by an order of President Zelensky, the first full-fledged exchange of prisoners of war took place. In exchange for ten captured invaders, we rescued ten of our servicemen," Vereschuk wrote on Facebook.

In addition, 11 Russian civilian sailors rescued from a ship that sank near Odesa were exchanged for 19 Ukrainian civilian sailors from the Sapphire rescue ship, which was captured by the invaders while trying to take Ukrainian servicemen from Snake Island.

The rescue ship itself, under the terms of the exchange, will also be returned to Ukraine and sent to a port in Turkey.