2024-01-31 19:32:54
Ukraine and Russia on Wednesday exchanged about 200 prisoners of war for each side in one of the most important prisoner exchanges in two years. On the other hand, the International Court of Justice rejected the bulk of Kiev’s accusations against Moscow of financing “terrorism” in eastern Ukraine, noting only that Moscow failed in the supposed violations. Kiev had accused Moscow of being a “terrorist state” whose support for separatists loyal to it in eastern Ukraine had paved the way for the comprehensive invasion in 2022.
Published on: 01/31/2024 – 20:32
5 minutes
Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday exchanged about 200 prisoners of war for each side, and this comes a week after the crash of a Russian military plane that Moscow said was carrying captured Ukrainian soldiers and accused Kiev of shooting it down. This is one of the most important prisoner exchanges in two years.
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that the Ukrainian army shot down the plane with an American Patriot missile used by Kiev to intercept Russian fire. Ukrainian authorities and Westerners are trying to obtain evidence about the Russian allegations.
195 Russians versus 207 Ukrainians
The Russian Defense Ministry said that “195 Russian soldiers” were exchanged for approximately the same number of Ukrainian soldiers. Putin welcomed the operation, stressing that Moscow wants to “return” all prisoners held by Kiev. “We will not stop the exchanges. We have to bring our men back to the country,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also welcomed the return of 207 Ukrainian prisoners. “Our soldiers have returned to the country,” he wrote on social media, pledging to return all prisoners, “whether they are fighters or civilians.”
This is the fifth exchange of this kind, Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets announced, adding that a total of 3,035 Ukrainians were able to return to their homes.
The issue of “financing terrorism”
On the other hand, the International Court of Justice on Wednesday rejected the bulk of Ukrainian accusations against Russia of “financing terrorism” in eastern Ukraine, noting only that Moscow failed to investigate the supposed violations. The court also rejected Ukraine’s request for compensation.
Kiev accused Moscow of being a “terrorist state” whose support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine paved the way for the comprehensive 2022 invasion.
The court declined to rule specifically on Moscow’s claim of responsibility for shooting down a Malaysian airliner over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, a request that Kiev had submitted to the court.
The story of the Russian plane crash
Last week, a Russian military plane crashed near the Ukrainian border under mysterious circumstances, killing all its passengers.
Moscow confirms that Kiev shot down the plane carrying 74 people, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were due to be exchanged.
On Wednesday, Putin announced for the first time the weapon used by the Ukrainian army, saying, “The plane was shot down and we confirmed that with an American Patriot system.”
These anti-aircraft defense systems, delivered by the United States, are usually used to intercept Russian missiles, especially those that are “hypersonic.”
Ukraine has neither confirmed nor denied involvement, but has questioned the presence of its soldiers on the plane. On the other hand, she confirmed that a prisoner exchange was scheduled on the day of the incident, but that did not happen in the end.
The reality of battles
The exchange took place on Wednesday while Moscow continues to put pressure on the Ukrainian defense systems, especially in Donbass and around Advivka, the center of the battles.
Vladimir Putin confirmed on Wednesday that his men are stationed in locations “on the outskirts” of this city.
For months, this industrial city has been witnessing clashes between Ukrainians and Russians, which led to heavy losses, according to observers.
Kiev confirms that it is resisting repeated attacks by Russian forces, but the Russians are now present in the south and north of the city, in addition to controlling the eastern side.
To break free from Russian pressure, Ukrainian forces are increasingly targeting targets in Russia to push the Russian army to redirect its equipment and men away from the front.
On Tuesday night, a drone launched by Ukrainian military intelligence hit a refinery in St. Petersburg, northwestern Russia, about a thousand kilometers from the border.
American and European support for Ukraine
Diplomatically, with the final tranche of funds to support Kiev still stuck in Congress, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised Wednesday that he would “do everything in his power” to increase European military aid to Ukraine on the eve of a crucial summit in Brussels on aid to Kiev.
Brussels announced on Wednesday that the European Union will only be able to deliver half a million missiles promised to Ukraine by the end of March, while Kiev fears the collapse of Western support.
European diplomats said that Brussels “extended its hand” to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Putin’s closest ally among the 27 member states, to lift his opposition to new European aid worth 50 billion euros for Kiev.
France 24/AFP/Reuters
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