KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine is actively working to resume prisoner exchanges with Russia, which could potentially facilitate the return of 1,200 Ukrainian prisoners. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this development on Sunday, following statements from his national security chief regarding progress in negotiations.
Zelenskyy conveyed on social media platform X, "We are ... counting on the resumption of POW exchanges. Many meetings, negotiations, and calls are currently taking place to ensure this." This update highlights Ukraine's commitment to bringing its citizens back home amidst ongoing hostilities.
Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, revealed that he had conducted consultations mediated by Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to facilitate the resumption of these exchanges. He noted that the involved parties agreed to activate previously established prisoner exchange agreements brokered in Istanbul. These protocols enable the potential release of 1,200 Ukrainians currently held in custody.
The agreements made in Istanbul in 2022 set forth a framework for large, coordinated swaps between Ukraine and Russia. Since the establishment of these protocols, thousands of prisoners have been exchanged; however, the process has not been without hiccups, with exchanges occurring sporadically.
Umerov expressed optimism about the ongoing discussions, indicating that technical consultations will be held soon to finalize specific procedural and organizational details. He also shared his hopes that the returning Ukrainian prisoners could "celebrate the New Year and Christmas holidays at home — at the family table and next to their relatives."
In addition to discussions on prisoner exchanges, Ukraine faced new challenges as Russian drone strikes targeted energy infrastructure in the Odesa region overnight into Sunday. According to Ukraine's State Emergency Service, a solar power plant was among the sites that sustained damage during these attacks.
With the backdrop of these aerial assaults, Ukraine is striving to retain control over its power grid, which has been under relentless pressure due to missile and drone strikes. This onslaught has resulted in rolling blackouts across Ukraine, with winter approaching and the need for stable energy sources becoming increasingly paramount.
As part of this offensive, Russia launched a total of 176 drones and one missile overnight, according to Ukraine's air force. Ukrainian defense forces were able to shoot down or neutralize 139 of those drones, showcasing their ongoing efforts to defend against these attacks. Conversely, Russia's defense ministry claimed that its forces had shot down 57 Ukrainian drones during the same period.
The current situation underscores the ongoing volatility in the region, as Ukraine continues to navigate both the logistical hurdles of prisoner exchanges and the immediate challenges posed by aerial attacks on its infrastructure. The international community is watching closely as both nations engage in negotiations while the conflict continues to impact civilians and military personnel alike.
