By Alexander Cornwell
DUBAI (Reuters) – Russia and Ukraine are set to swap 115 prisoners each on Saturday after negotiations brokered by the United Arab Emirates, a UAE official said, in the first prisoner swap since Ukraine launched its offensive inside Russia this month.
The Emirati official spoke on condition of anonymity because details have not yet been made public.
There was no immediate comment from Russian and Ukrainian officials on the alleged exchange.
This would be the seventh such deal the UAE has brokered since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Abu Dhabi, a close security partner of the United States, has maintained warm relations with Moscow throughout the war, to the frustration of some Western officials. It has also strengthened ties with Kyiv.
Emirati officials say their ability to speak to a range of international actors means they can effectively mediate between parties and promote cooperation and security.
Since the start of the war, the UAE has brokered the release of 1,788 prisoners, including those scheduled for release on Saturday.
On August 6, the Ukrainian military launched a surprise attack on Russia’s Kursk region, the largest attack inside Russian territory by a foreign force since World War II.
Kyiv said it had created a buffer zone in the area that Russia, which sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in 2022, had used to bomb targets in Ukraine.
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