Recently, The Exchange Of Prisoners, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Wants His Troops To Arrest More Russian Troops, For What?

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday urged his troops to take more prisoners, as the country exchanged women's prisoners for the first time with Russia.

President Zelensky's remarks come just hours after Ukraine and Russia made one of the biggest exchanges of prisoners so far, since the February invasion. A total of 218 prisoners were in exchange this time, including 108 Ukrainian women.

"I thank everyone involved in this success, and I am also grateful to everyone who refilled our exchange 'fund', who confirmed the arrest of the enemy," he said in a late speech.

"The more Russian prisoners we have, the sooner we can free our heroes. Every Ukrainian soldier, every frontline commander must remember this," President Zelensky stressed.

Meanwhile, Andriy Yermak, Ukraine's presidential chief of staff, said there were 12 civilians among the women released.

Our people are returning home 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/RjCbUyXBfA

— Andriy Yermak (@AndriyYermak) October 17, 2022

"It was the first fully female exchange," she wrote on the Telegram messaging app, adding 37 women among the released, were arrested after Russian troops took over the giant Azovstal steel factory in the port town of Mariupol in May.

One of the women, medical officer Viktoria Obidina, said until the last moment the group did not know it was going to be exchanged. Obidina was with her young daughter when Mariupol fell, but the two later separated.

"I'm going to go see my daughter. I really want to see her," he told reporters.

Separately, Ukraine's Interior Ministry said several women had been jailed since 2019, after being detained by pro-Moscow authorities in the eastern region.

It is known, the oldest woman in the exchange of times in prison this time is 62 years old while the youngest is 21 years old, said the War Defense Coordination Headquarters.

Separately, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the exchange, saying 110 Russians were released, including 72 sailors from commercial vessels detained since February. It said all those returning would be flown to Moscow and provided medical and psychological assistance.