Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange, with each side exchanging 90 prisoners of war each and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) acting as an intermediary. The Tuesday exchange marked the latest in a series of periodic swaps between the two nations since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022.

The Russian defense ministry confirmed the swap and said that the released Russian military personnel were to be transported to Moscow for medical treatment and rehabilitation. The exchange of prisoners was also acknowledged by Ukranian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who celebrated the prisoners’ return home in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). The Russian Ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova’s representatives also met with their Ukrainian counterpart during the prisoner exchange to discuss possible options for civilians currently in detention.

The UAE’s involvement as a mediator has been instrumental in securing prisoner exchanges between both nations, with this swap marking the fifth such prisoner exchange since the beginning of this year. The gulf nation has maintained a policy of relative neutrality since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; however, it’s role in mediating such prisoner exchange’s has at times caused friction with the United States who would like it to participate in the sanctions regime targeting Russia.

A prisoner exchange earlier this year saw nearly 500 prisoners released by Ukraine and Russia. In all, the exchanges have released hundreds of prisoners. Russia’s war in Ukraine continues, but there have been international efforts to begin considering what an end to the war could look like, including a summit in Switzerland attended by over 100 countries.