By Burc Eruygur
ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia said on Thursday it conducted a prisoner swap with Ukraine involving 200 people from each side.
'200 Russian servicemen have been returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime. In exchange, 200 Ukrainian Armed Forces prisoners of war have been handed over,' the country's Defense Ministry said, according to state media outlets including the news wire RIA.
According to a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry, the exchange was made possible 'thanks to the humanitarian mediation of the United Arab Emirates and the United States.'
'All Russian servicemen who returned home are receiving the necessary medical and psychological assistance,' the statement said.
It added that a second exchange of 300 for 300 is scheduled for Friday.
Separately, Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky wrote on Telegram that Moscow and Kyiv will exchange 500 prisoners of war each on March 5-6, as part of agreements reached during peace talks in Geneva.
Ukrainian authorities had not yet commented.