In UAE-Brokered POW Deal, Ukraine Releases 115 Russian Troops Captured In Kursk In Exchange For 115 Ukrainian Troops Held By Russia

On August 25, 2024, CCTV Video News Agency (China) published on its YouTube channel a report about a previous-day POW exchange between Russia and Ukraine. In the exchange, which was mediated by the UAE, 115 Russian servicemembers who were captured in the Kursk region were released in exchange for 115 captured Ukrainian servicemembers. The released Russian POWs were sent to Belarus. The report features footage published by Russia's Defense Ministry of the released POWs boarding busses.

On-screen text: "Russia's defense ministry said on August 24 that 115 Russian servicemen captured in the Kursk region were returned from the territory controlled by Ukraine as part of an exchange deal, ' In exchange, 115 prisoners of war of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were transferred,' the ministry said, adding that the United Arab Emirates provided mediation efforts during the swap. All the exchanged Russian military personnel are currently in Belarus and will be sent to Russia for treatment and rehabilitation at the ministry's military institutions, it said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on August 24 that Russia handed over 115 prisoners to Ukraine that day."