63 Russian and 116 Ukrainian soldiers returned in prisoner exchange

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that 63 Russian soldiers have been returned from captivity

The Ministry says that those released include people of a “sensitive category,” whose exchange was made possible by United Arab Emirates’ mediation. It did not specify what the category is.

“Currently, all service members are located on the territory of the Russian Federation. They are being provided with the necessary psychological and medical help, and have also been given the opportunity to contact their relatives,” say the defense ministry.

Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, confirmed the exchange, saying that 116 people — two officers and 114 privates and sergeants — had returned to Ukraine. 

Yermak also said that Ukraine had been able to recover the bodies of two foreign volunteers, Christopher Matthew Perry and Andrew Tobias Matthew, as well as the body of a Ukrainian volunteer fighting with the French Foreign Legion. The latter’s name was not released.