Russia and Ukraine completed another exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) on Wednesday. The Russian defense ministry confirmed the exchange on Telegram, stating that all prisoners of war will receive adequate medical treatment. In a statement on X, Ukrainian president Volodimir Zelenskyy confirmed the successful exchange, thanking the United Arabian Emirates (UAE) who mediated the deal. Among the 180 people who were able to return to their homes were members of the Ukrainian armed forces, Ukrane’s National Guard, and its Border Guard Service, some of whom have been in captivity since the very start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country in 2022.

The exchange is the third of its kind in the past seven weeks and the latest addition to 54 swaps of military servicemen and women. Both countries’ officials only physically meet under agreements to swap their dead and POWs. It is already the sixth exchange mediated by the Gulf state, which maintains a relatively neutral position and relationship with Russia. This fact has also prompted criticism from the US, which calls upon the state to participate in sanctions against Russia. Earlier this year, the UAE had mediated the exchange of 500 prisoners captured by Ukraine and Russia.

A March UN report detailed how Ukranian prisoners of war are subjected to widespread psychological ill-treatment and physical torture, including executions. Amnesty International condemned these actions as manifest violations of international humanitarian law. Isolated incidents of Russian soldiers complaining about ill-treatment in transition to their detention locations also circulate.