the warring sides. Prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of soldiers' remains have been among the few areas of cooperation between Russia and Ukraine since Moscow launched its offensive in February 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the return of the soldiers: "Today, 103 Ukrainian warriors are returning home from Russian captivity." He noted those freed included defenders of Mariupol, the port city devastated during a months-long siege in 2022, as well as troops captured across seven frontline regions. "We remember every man and woman who still remains in captivity. We are doing everything possible to bring all our people home," he said. The Russian defence ministry had earlier announced the swap, stating that "103 Russian servicemen were returned... in exchange, 103 Ukrainian prisoners of war were handed over." The freed Russian soldiers are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving psychological and medical care before being flown to Russia for rehabilitation. The United Arab Emirates mediated the exchange, marking one of dozens of prisoner swaps the Gulf state has brokered between Moscow and Kyiv since the start of the war. Meanwhile, talks on ending the conflict remain effectively frozen, while the United Nations reports the civilian death toll in 2026 has risen to its highest levels since the war's first months. (Bssnews)