Russia, Ukraine carry out exchange of 206 prisoners

MOSCOW/KYIV — Russia and Ukraine conducted a major exchange of 206 prisoners on Saturday, 103 apiece, in their second such swap in two days, officials said.

"A total of 103 Russian servicemen who were taken prisoner in the Kursk region have been released. In exchange, 103 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been transferred," Russia's Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The exchange was the second in two days, Ukrainian authorities said on Saturday.

A total of 103 Ukrainian military troops, including 21 officers, were released, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote in a post on Telegram.

The exchange was mediated by the United Arab Emirates, Emirati state news agency WAM said.

The prisoner swap came as Russia pushed ahead in east Ukraine, where it claims to have captured a string of villages in recent weeks.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a daily briefing it had "liberated" the village of Zhelanne Pershe, less than 30 kilometers from the key Ukrainian-held logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

Ukraine had hoped its attack into the Kursk region would slow down Russia's advances in the east.

Zelensky on Friday said Moscow had been slowed down somewhat but conceded the situation on the eastern front was "very difficult".

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's security council, said Russia's patience regarding a nuclear response to Western actions in Ukraine is wearing thin.

Medvedev said in a message posted on his Telegram channel on Saturday that while "a nuclear conflict is in no one's interest", Russia has thus far exercised restraint in utilizing its nuclear capabilities in response to Western involvement.

However, he cautioned that "even the greatest patience has its limits".

Agencies - Xinhua