Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners of war following plane crash controversy

Published: 31 January 2024 at 14:20

Politics

Russia and Ukraine exchanged a total of 390 prisoners of war in the first swap since the controversy surrounding the downing of a Russian plane carrying Ukrainian soldiers. Russia\'s Defense Ministry stated that 195 of its soldiers were freed, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that 207 soldiers and civilians had returned to Ukraine. The plane crash, which occurred near Ukraine\'s western border, raised questions about the circumstances of the incident, with Moscow claiming that 65 Ukrainian prisoners were on board. Kyiv has called for evidence to support these claims.