Kiev, Dec 16, (dpa/GNA) – Ukraine and Russia have exchanged civilians at the border between Ukraine and Belarus, human rights officials on both sides said on Tuesday.
A total of 60 civilians were handed over to the Ukrainians, of whom 45 had been in held in Russia, while 15 civilians from 11 families were transferred to Russia.
“Most of the returnees have restricted movement. They will be taken to hospital for first aid,” Ukrainian human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets posted on Telegram.
Russian human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova reported on the transfers to Russia.
Both sides said that mail for prisoners of war had also been exchanged, with 2,000 parcels for Ukrainian prisoners in Russia handed over.
They said that agreements had also been reached on the identification of missing persons, and that lists for the missing had been exchanged.
According to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Russia is holding more than 6,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Ukraine has been warding off a full-scale Russian invasion since February 2022.
GNA