Russia has confirmed that 144 Ukrainian soldiers have been handed over to Kiev, in exchange for the same number of Russian prisoners, saying the decision was approved by President Vladimir Putin.
The exchange took place on Wednesday and was “organized and carried out on the direct orders of the Supreme Commander of the Russia Armed Forces,” Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman, General Igor Konashenkov, said on Thursday.
The order was given by Putin because “the lives, the health, the release of our servicemen, the fighters of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, who make up the majority of those returned, is the most important task,” Konashenkov said.