Both sides said about 200 prisoners each had been exchanged yesterday, although they disagreed about the exact figures.
"Our people are back, 207 of them," the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said. "We return them home no matter what." He published photos showing Ukrainian soldiers hugging, making telephone calls and crying after the swap. Many were holding yellowand-blue Ukrainian flags.
Russia's defence ministry released a statement in which it confirmed the swap and said "exactly 195 Ukrainian armed forces prisoners of war have been handed over" for the return of 195 captured Russian soldiers.
Yesterday's swap marked an unexpectedly quick return to prisoner exchanges after Russia accused Ukraine of shooting down the Il-76 last week.
Russia said there had been 65 Ukrainian Pows onboard and accused Ukraine of intentionally targeting the flight, but it has not released proof or a confirmed flight manifest.
Ukraine said it had no information about prisoners onboard but confirmed a swap was planned as it accused Russia of putting Ukranian service personnel at risk. Both sides have ordered an investigation into the crash. "It is clear that the Russians are playing with the lives of Ukrainian prisoners, the feelings of their loved ones and the emotions of our society," Zelenskiy said last week.
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