UAE brokers Ukraine, Russia prisoner swap

The United Arab Emirates has mediated a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides releasing 175 detainees each, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Saturday.

The swap, confirmed by Russia’s Defence Ministry and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is the latest in a series of exchanges facilitated by the UAE as part of its ongoing mediation efforts between the two countries.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine had brought home 175 servicemen and seven civilians from Russian captivity. He said the Ukrainian servicemen had defended the country on different fronts from the east to the south and most of them had been in captivity in Russia since 2022.

Russia's Defence Ministry said Russia took back 175 servicemen and also seven civilians originally from the Kursk region.

وساطة إماراتية جديدة بين روسيا وأوكرانيا تنجح في إطلاق 350 أسير حرب pic.twitter.com/AsFZOcsjXV

— MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) April 11, 2026

During more than four years of war, Kyiv and Moscow have carried out regular POW exchanges, with the UAE playing an increasingly active diplomatic role in securing humanitarian deals since the start of the conflict.

As both Ukraine and Russia celebrate Orthodox Easter this weekend, the countries have agreed on a short, 32-hour ceasefire to mark the holiday.

Russia said the ceasefire would begin at 4 p.m. (1300 GMT) on Saturday and end at midnight on Sunday.

Zelenskyy said he and his army chief had discussed the procedures for Ukrainian troops under the ceasefire.

"The absence of Russian strikes in the air, on land, and at sea will mean no response from our side," he said.

"A ceasefire at Easter could also become the beginning of real movement toward peace – our side has made the corresponding proposal."