Ukraine and Russia announced today that they have held a new prisoner of war exchange, the first in more than a month. 106 military personnel returned to Russia and 100 to Ukraine.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that 106 Russian servicemen who were “in mortal danger” while in custody have been returned.

The servicemen will be flown to Moscow where they will be provided with medical treatment and psychological support, the statement said.

The head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, announced the return of 100 military personnel to Ukraine.

“We brought back 100 of our men – these are soldiers, sailors, border guards and members of the National Guard”, he said, speaking of a “difficult” exchange and adding that among them there are defenders of Mariupol, “Azovstal”, Gostomel”.

“Some have been seriously injured and are suffering from illnesses. We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that everyone is given all the help they need,” he added in his Telegram post.

The last prisoner exchange between Kiev and Moscow took place on March 7, when Ukraine took back 130 of its soldiers and Russia 90.

In December 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that more than 1,300 prisoners had been returned to Ukraine in exchanges with Russia since the start of the war.

Since then several more exchanges have taken place.