Ukraine and Russia each released around 200 prisoners of war. Kremlin chief Putin renewed the accusation that Ukraine shot down a plane with Ukrainian prisoners on board a week ago.
A week after the crash of a Russian military plane carrying, according to Russian information, 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, both countries exchanged around 200 prisoners of war each. The official figures from both sides did not completely agree.
“207 of our people have returned to their homeland,” wrote Ukrainian human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets on Telegram. These were captured, among other things, while defending Mariupol, Kherson and the Snake Island. It was the 50th prisoner exchange of this kind, and a total of 3,035 Ukrainians have returned so far.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the exchange. However, according to information from Moscow, 195 Russian soldiers were exchanged for 195 Ukrainian soldiers. The difference in numbers was not explained.
Exchange originally planned a week ago
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has renewed his allegations about the crash of a Russian military plane. A prisoner exchange was originally planned for last Wednesday. On that day, however, a Russian army transport plane crashed near the Russian city of Belgorod.
Russia then accused Ukraine of shooting down a plane that was supposed to take Ukrainian prisoners of war to a prisoner exchange. 65 Ukrainians, six crew members and three Russian soldiers died.
Putin: shot down by USAnti-aircraft system
Ukraine confirmed that a prisoner exchange was planned at the time, but said it had previously been canceled. Accordingly, Kiev doubted that Ukrainian prisoners of war were on board and called for an international investigation into the incident. Kiev did not immediately respond to allegations of involvement in the crash.
Putin now spoke of alleged evidence that the Ilyushin had been shot down with the US Patriot anti-aircraft system. The shooting took place from an area controlled by Ukrainian troops. That is why Russia is insisting on an investigation by international experts, Putin said during a televised appearance in Moscow. But he immediately rowed back: “But there are no organizations that want to do that,” he claimed.
Björn Blaschke, ARD Moscow, tagesschau, January 31, 2024 5:46 p.m