Russia, Ukraine swap 9 POWs each. Ukraine got back 3 civilians as well

Russia and Ukraine have carried out another prisoner swap following negotiations.

The Russian Defence Ministry announced the return of 9 Russian servicemen. Head of the Ukrainian President’s office Andrii Yermak said that 12 people came home, including 4 sailors, 2 national guardsmen, 1 territorial defence soldier, as well as 3 civilians: a married couple and a man who was believed to be missing.

Yermak said, “warriors who were defending Mariupol, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and the Zmiiny Island are coming home.”

Ukraine got back 98 prisoners of war in the past week. The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggests that the swaps are happening more often now because Moscow is trying to reduce public discontent.

The ISW notes that 3 swaps took place between 23 and 25 November: each side returned 35, 50, and 9 prisoners each.