**Ukraine Frees 189 People from Russian Captivity**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on December 30 that 189 people, including military service members and civilians, have been brought back from Russian captivity. This is one of the largest prisoner exchanges since the start of the full-scale war in 2022.
The freed captives included soldiers who defended important locations such as Azovstal, Mariupol, and the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Among those released were 87 Armed Forces service members, 43 National Guard members, 33 border guards, and 24 sailors.
**A Major Milestone**
This exchange brings the total number of people freed from Russian captivity to 3,956 since the start of the war. Some of these captives had been held for over two and a half years and suffered chronic diseases and injuries.
The prisoner swap was made possible with the help of the United Arab Emirates as a mediator. In return, 150 Russian military service members were released from Ukrainian captivity.
**Previous Exchanges**
This is not the first time Ukraine and Russia have exchanged prisoners. Previous swaps occurred in mid-October and earlier this year, with each side bringing back 95 prisoners. However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed that he approached both countries with an offer of a Christmas truce and prisoner exchange, which was rejected by Kyiv.
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