Ukrainian prisoners of struggle react after an alternate, amid Russia’s assault on Ukraine, at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, on this handout photograph launched August 24, 2024. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. | Photograph credit score: Reuters
Russia and Ukraine exchanged greater than 100 prisoners of struggle on Saturday (August 24, 2024) as kyiv marked its third Independence Day since Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
Ukraine stated the 115 freed troopers have been conscripts, lots of whom had been taken prisoner within the first months of the Russian invasion. They included practically 50 troopers captured by Russian forces on the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.
The Russian Protection Ministry stated the 115 Russian troopers had been captured within the Kursk area, the place Ukrainian forces launched their shock offensive into Russia two weeks in the past. The ministry stated the troopers have been at the moment in Belarus however could be taken to Russia for medical remedy and rehabilitation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in a publish on X that the UAE had once more negotiated the swap, the fifty fifth since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022.
Images connected to Zelensky’s message present emaciated troopers with shaved heads and draped in Ukrainian flags.
“We bear in mind each one among them. We’re looking out and doing every little thing potential to carry all of them again,” Zelensky stated within the publish.
Officers from either side meet solely once they alternate their lifeless and prisoners of struggle, after lengthy preparations and shut diplomacy. Neither Ukraine nor Russia disclose what number of prisoners of struggle there are in whole.
Based on the UN, most Ukrainian prisoners of struggle endure systematic medical neglect, extreme and systematic ill-treatment and even torture throughout their detention. There have additionally been remoted studies of abuse of Russian troopers, significantly throughout seize or switch to locations of internment.
Final January, Russia and Ukraine exchanged lots of of prisoners of struggle within the largest single-man launch.
Two individuals have been killed and 4 wounded, together with a child, when Russian forces shelled the southern Ukrainian metropolis of Kherson, capital of the partially occupied Kherson area, native officers stated.
The Ukrainian Air Drive reported that it had intercepted and destroyed seven drones over the south of the nation. Russian long-range bombers additionally attacked the realm of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island with 4 cruise missiles, whereas the broader Kherson area was additionally hit by aerial bombs.
In Russia, the Protection Ministry stated on Saturday (August 24, 2024) that air defenses had shot down seven drones in a single day.
5 drones have been shot down within the southwestern Voronezh area bordering Ukraine, injuring two individuals, regional governor Aleksandr Gusev stated. Astra posted movies showing to indicate explosions at an ammunition depot after it was hit by a drone. The movies couldn’t be independently verified.
Two individuals have been injured in a drone assault within the Belgorod area bordering Ukraine, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov stated. Native authorities didn’t report any casualties within the Bryansk area, the place the fifth drone was intercepted.
Within the Kursk area, regional governor Alexei Smirnov stated on Saturday (August 24, 2024) that three missiles have been shot down in a single day and one other 4 on Saturday (August 24, 2024) morning.
Russian air defenses shot down two extra drones on Saturday (August 24, 2024) morning, the Russian Protection Ministry stated: one over the Kursk area and one other over the Bryansk area.
Ukraine celebrated its thirty third Independence Day on Saturday (24 August 2024), as its struggle in opposition to Russian aggression reaches a 30-month milestone. No festivities have been deliberate and as a substitute Ukrainians will mark the day with commemorations for civilians and troopers killed within the struggle.
Polish President Andrzej Duda arrived by prepare early Saturday morning (24 August 2024) in kyiv in a symbolic present of assist from one among Ukraine’s key allies.
Movies launched by his workplace present him being greeted by Ukrainian officers after which paying his respects at a ceremony on the Wall of Remembrance for Ukraine’s Fallen.
Duda’s go to to kyiv, his fifth since February 2022, sends a message that Warsaw’s assist for Ukraine stays robust because the struggle drags on for a 3rd 12 months.
Poland, positioned to the west of Ukraine, has donated weapons and develop into a transport hub for Western weapons destined for Ukraine. It has additionally taken in tens of 1000’s of Ukrainians fleeing the struggle. It’s the nation that hosts the biggest variety of Ukrainian refugees outdoors the nation, after Germany.
A commerce dispute over Ukrainian grain that soured relations final 12 months and historic grievances between the 2 international locations generally provoke dangerous emotions, significantly amongst Poles who bear in mind a World Conflict II bloodbath dedicated by Ukrainian nationalists.
