The 19-year-old dreamt of competing abroad, and said she wanted to be like Ronaldo and Messi
world3 days ago
Russia and Ukraine have released a total of 190 captured soldiers in the latest prisoner exchange between the two sides, officials in Moscow and Kyiv announced on Wednesday.
Thousands of POWs have been freed in more than 50 individual exchanges throughout the war — an area where the two sides have been able to strike rare agreements since Russia attacked in February 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia's defence ministry each said on Wednesday that 95 of their soldiers had been freed.
"We continue to bring our people home. Another 95 defenders have been released from Russian captivity," Zelensky said in a post on Telegram.
He said the exchange was mediated by the United Arab Emirates.
"As a result of a negotiation process, 95 Russian servicemen... have been returned," Russia's defence ministry said on Telegram.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in June that 1,348 Russian soldiers were being held in Ukrainian captivity, and that Russia had detained 6,465 Ukrainian POWs.
Exchanges have taken place sporadically throughout the conflict.
In a rare instance of direct talks between officials from Moscow and Kyiv, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova said her office met with a counterpart from Ukraine at the exchange.
The first such meeting took place at an exchange in June, Ukraine's human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets told AFP at the time.
The officials discussed "joint humanitarian actions, including those related to the reunification of families," Moskalkova said.
Kyiv accuses Russia of having forcibly deported thousands of Ukrainian children from territory which came under Moscow's control, and is working to secure their return.
Moscow says children were moved for their own protection.
Several have been returned, including through deals brokered by Qatar.
The 19-year-old dreamt of competing abroad, and said she wanted to be like Ronaldo and Messi
world3 days ago
Hochstein's mission marks a last-ditch attempt by the outgoing US administration to clinch a ceasefire as diplomacy to end the Gaza war appears totally adrift
world3 days ago
This will be his first visit since the beginning of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia around three years ago
world4 days ago
The changes state that any conventional attack on Russia, aided by a nuclear power, could be considered to be a joint attack
world4 days ago
The country launched a probe in March 2021 into WhatsApp's privacy policy, which allowed data sharing with Facebook and its units, sparking global backlash
world4 days ago
This time around, Trump wants the Senate to give up that gatekeeping role and allow him to make 'recess appointments'
world5 days ago
Police allege the offences took place between 2001 and 2019 against 8 victims; the youngest was 17 at the time of the offence
world5 days ago
The two countries have a mutual defence treaty dating back to 1951, which could be invoked if either side came under attack, including in the South China Sea
world5 days ago