UAE says it aided Russia, Ukraine prisoner swap

STORY: The United Arab Emirates said it succeeded in mediating the release of 100 Russian prisoners of war in exchange for 100 war prisoners from the Ukrainian side.

This video showing servicemen boarding a bus and chatting amongst themselves was posted by the Russian Defense Ministry on Telegram.

Russia's Defense Ministry, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy and the Ukrainian body overseeing the exchange noted the UAE's 'humanitarian mediation'.

The UAE's foreign ministry said it is the third mediation effort between Russia and Ukraine this year, adding that it is calling for diplomacy, dialog, and de-escalation, Emirates News Agency reported.

Russia's Defense Ministry said returning soldiers would undergo medical examinations in Moscow, while Ukraine's Coordinating Committee said 28 of the returning servicemen were injured or ill.

It said 84 had taken part in the defense of Mariupol, with the others serving in other parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, partly occupied by Russian forces.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Intelligence Directorate's head, Kyrylo Budanov, told reporters that 3,135 Ukrainian war prisoners had now been brought home.