On Thursday, February 6, Ukraine reported the capture of 909 Russian soldiers following six months of military operations in Russia’s western Kursk region.
Launched in August, this operation aimed to enhance Ukraine’s ability to secure prisoner exchanges, as stated by officials in Kyiv.
“Throughout the operation, Ukrainian forces captured 909 Russian servicemen, significantly increasing our exchange pool,” the Ukrainian military announced. “This achievement has enabled the return of hundreds of Ukrainian defenders previously held in Russian prisons,” they added.
Despite the ongoing conflict, which is now approaching its third year, Kyiv and Moscow have continued their cooperation regarding prisoner swaps. Ukrainian authorities have made the repatriation of captured soldiers a top priority, resulting in notable successes over the past year.
In a parallel operation last year, Ukrainian forces captured over 700 Russian troops in the same region, underscoring Ukraine’s expanding capability to negotiate prisoner exchanges.
August’s unexpected offensive into Russian territory marked the most extensive operation by a foreign military on Russian soil since World War II. However, after an initial period of progress, Ukrainian forces have encountered setbacks, losing some of the territory they had secured.
Kyiv asserts that its remaining presence in the Kursk region will be a critical asset in future peace negotiations, as Russian forces continue to advance steadily along the front lines in eastern Ukraine.
