189 POWs return to Ukraine from Russia in UAE-brokered deal

Russia and Ukraine have swapped over 300 prisoners of war in an exchange brokered by the United Arab Emirates ahead of New Year's Eve, officials from both countries said on Monday.

Ukrainian President Zelensky said that Kyiv received 189 people as part of the deal, including soldiers, border guards and two civilians from the Russian-occupied city of Mariupol.

Russia's defense ministry announced on social media on Monday that 150 Russian servicemen were returned from Ukraine.

The ministry also said that for the second straight day Russian troops had seized control of a settlement in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk.