Ukraine said it had carried out a prisoner swap with Russia, which freed 215 military personnel, including defense commanders at the Azovstal steel plant in the city of Mariupol, which has become a symbol of resistance to the Russian invasion, AFP reported.

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"We managed to free 215 people - the most significant exchange since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February," the head of the presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, said on television.

President Zelensky set himself a clear task - to bring back our heroes.

The result is that our heroes are free, Ermak was quoted as saying by the UNIAN news agency.

He added that the exchange took place in several stages and in many different locations, and that those freed from Russian captivity included soldiers, border guards, policemen, sailors, members of the National Guard, customs officers and civilians.

Erdogan: Russia and Ukraine will exchange 200 prisoners

55 prisoners have been handed over to Russia, including former deputy Viktor Medvedchuk - close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and accused of treason in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky specified in his regular address. 

As part of this long-prepared operation, five military commanders, including the heads of Azovstal's defense, were transferred to Turkey, Zelensky stressed, quoted by BTA.

According to the Ukrainian head of state, they will remain in Turkey "in complete safety and in very good conditions until the end of the war", according to the agreement with Turkish President Recep Erdogan.

Part of this exchange are the 10 prisoners of war, including five Britons and two Americans, whose transfer from Russia to Saudi Arabia was announced earlier yesterday by Saudi diplomacy, Zelensky said.

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