Ukraine, Russia exchange POWs for first time in months

Ukraine and Russia have conducted their first prisoner exchange in months, each releasing at least 157 people, both countries said Thursday. The two sides have in the past conducted several rounds of prisoner swaps, one of the rare areas of direct cooperation between Ukraine and Russia.

On Thursday, amid three-way talks in Abu Dhabi, the countries swapped 157 captured soldiers and civilians each in an exchange mediated by Washington -- the first since October. Russia, who said the United States and United Arab Emirates acted as mediators for the exchange, announced earlier it had handed over 157 Ukrainian soldiers and that 157 Russian servicemen were returned.