On Monday, Russia and Ukraine swapped more than 100 prisoners, including women held in Russia and women held in Ukraine.
Of the108 Ukrainian women released, 37 were evacuees from the Avostal steel plant in Mariupol, 11 were officers, and 85 were privates and non-commissioned officers.
—Andriy Yermak (@AndriyYermak) October 17, 2022
According to a post on his Telegram channel, Monday's swap was the first all-female swap since the war began.
It was nerve-racking. There are a lot of details that could affect the process.
Zelenskyy mentioned the exchange in his national address. More than 100 Ukrainian women, including officers, sergeants, privates, army, navy, territorial defense, national guards, border guards, were returned.
The Defense Ministry said that 72 of the freed Russians were civilian sailors who had been held in Ukraine. It did not specify the genders of the Russian captives, though it referred to the sailors as "seamen." The Telegram message said it was an all-female prisoner swap, but it appeared to be different.
Some of the prisoners released by the Russian government were members of the pro-Russian military units.
Two Ukrainian women who were marked for the swap did not return to their home country before the exchange. Ukrainian officials didn't acknowledge or confirm that allegation. Insider did not get a response from representatives at the presidential office.
Several photos of the Ukrainian captives were released by the Ukrainian Presidential Office.
All the ladies will go through a medical examination. They will embrace their family. He thanked the staff who coordinated the prisoner exchange.
Since the beginning of the war, Russia and Ukraine have traded prisoners. The Avostal steel plant was defended by 95 soldiers who were released in June.
More than 200 Ukrainians were returned to their country by Russia. 55 Russian prisoners of war were released by the Ukrainians.
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