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What did the UAE-brokered prisoner swap involve?
Summary
A look back at the exchange of hundreds of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine, reported on the eve of 2025.
What happened in the prisoner exchange reported around 31 December 2024? Russia and Ukraine swapped hundreds of prisoners of war on 30 December 2024, in a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates.
Ukraine said that many of those released by Russia were soldiers captured during the Siege of Mariupol in 2022.
Why prisoners' treatment matters
During the war, prisoners of war on both sides have suffered several forms of abuse, including mistreatment, exposure to public curiosity, torture and even execution. Exchanges are the route by which captives return home.
The Emirati mediation was the notable feature of this deal: the United Arab Emirates acted as broker between the two governments.
