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Ukrainian authorities says this was the primary one-for-one alternate of captured troops since Russia’s invasion started a month in the past.
Ukrainian and Russian forces have exchanged prisoners, in what Ukraine mentioned was the primary soldier-for-soldier swap since Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, ordered troops into the neighbouring nation late final month.
“Following an order from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the primary fully-fledged alternate of prisoners of conflict has taken place,” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk wrote on Fb on Thursday.
“In alternate for 10 captured occupiers we rescued 10 of our servicemen,” she mentioned, referring to Russian and Ukrainian troops.
Vereshchuk additionally mentioned 11 Russian civilian seamen rescued close to the Black Sea port metropolis of Odesa have been exchanged for 19 Ukrainian civilian ship crew members held by Russia’s forces.
Tatiana Moskalkova, the Russian human rights ombudsman, confirmed each exchanges.
Russia’s international ministry mentioned earlier this week that Moscow had accomplished two prisoner swaps because it launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Moskalkova mentioned 9 Russian prisoners have been exchanged for the mayor of Melitopol, a metropolis in southeastern Ukraine captured by the Russian military.
After his launch, Ivan Fyodorov mentioned Russian forces had thrown him in a cell and pressured him for hours, whereas he heard folks being tortured in neighbouring cells. He mentioned they wished him to resign so {that a} Russian-appointed “mayor” may take over his duties.
Vereshchuk on Wednesday confirmed the Melitopol swap however denied any others had taken place.
In a video handle afterward Thursday, Vereshchuk additionally mentioned the Russians have taken 14 Ukrainian officers prisoner, largely native politicians or metropolis corridor representatives, and demanded their launch, saying that taking civilians captive was towards worldwide legislation.
Citing the testimony of Ukrainians launched from Russian-occupied areas, Vereshchuk additionally accused Russian troopers of torture and pledged to prosecute such crimes in The Hague.
“All members of the Russian navy listening to my assertion ought to know that we are going to not let anybody go unpunished,” she mentioned.
The Russian invasion, which President Vladimir Putin calls a “particular operation”, has killed hundreds of individuals, despatched 3.6 million overseas and pushed greater than half of Ukraine’s kids from their properties, based on the United Nations.
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