Russia thanks UAE for assistance in organizing Russian servicemen's return from Ukrainian captivity - Russian Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW. Feb 9 (Interfax) - The Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for its mediation efforts that helped organize the return of Russian soldiers from Ukrainian captivity.

"We thank the United Arab Emirates for its assistance in organizing the return of Russian service members," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website.

One hundred Russian service members returned to their home country on February 8 after being held by the Kiev regime for a lengthy amount of time. Ukraine received 100 Ukrainian service members in return as part of a prisoner swap.

"The released Russians are now in Moscow, where they are being given the necessary medical treatment and counselling," the ministry said.

The Russian Defense Ministry revealed the news about the prisoner swap on Thursday.

"The United Arab Emirates provided humanitarian mediation during the return of Russian service members from captivity," the Defense Ministry said.