Russia and Ukraine Exchange 175 Prisoners Each Hours Before Orthodox Easter Ceasefire

Russia and Ukraine conducted a major prisoner exchange hours before the start of an Orthodox Easter ceasefire, with each side releasing 175 captured soldiers. The United Arab Emirates facilitated the swap between the two warring nations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the return of defenders who had fought in the strategic port city of Mariupol and the Chernobyl nuclear site, many of whom had been held captive since 2022 when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.