Russia Will Not Stop Prisoner of War Exchange with Ukraine, President Putin: We Must Bring Them Home

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that he would not stop the exchange of prisoners of war (POW) with Ukraine, even though there were concerns following the crash of a plane carrying prisoners of war last week in the Belgorod area.

Last week, the Russian military said an Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane had been shot down by Ukraine in the western region of Belgorod. The plane was said to be carrying 65 POWs, along with six crew members and three bodyguards. All of them died.

Russia has not provided solid evidence for its claims. Meanwhile Kyiv questioned Moscow's claim that Ukrainian POWs were on the downed plane.

President Putin assured that this would not make Russia stop exchanging prisoners of war.

"Will this stop the exchange or not? We will not stop the exchange. We have to bring our own people home," he said, as reported by TASS, February 1.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the crash of the military transport plane had raised concerns that Kyiv would take advantage and stop the prisoner exchange.

"The prisoner transfer was supposed to take place on January 24, but was disrupted by the Zelensky regime, which ordered the downing of an Ilyushin-76 military transport plane carrying Ukrainian military for the exchange. The tragedy raised concerns that Kyiv would do the same. Using this situation to delay the exchange "indefinitely or ignore it altogether. We can state that this did not happen," he explained.

It is known that Russia and Ukraine have exchanged prisoners of war again. The Russian military said each side repatriated 195 troops on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 207 Ukrainian soldiers had been returned.

In a brief statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said the exchange was completed after negotiations.

"The released military personnel will be transported by military transport plane to Moscow for treatment and rehabilitation," he said, as reported by the BBC.

"All those released were provided with necessary medical and psychological assistance," the statement continued.

Meanwhile, President Zelensky wrote in a post on social media: "Our people have returned. There are 207 people. We are sending them home no matter what.

"We remember every captured Ukrainian citizen. Both fighters and civilians. We must return them all," he said, thanking top Ukrainian security officials for making this latest exchange possible.

The exchange was kept secret until it happened, for security reasons. Ukraine confirmed the United Arab Emirates was involved as a mediator.