More than 100 women are freed in first all-female prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine 

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More than 100 women are released in first exchange of exclusively female prisoners between Russia and Ukraine

  • Ukraine conducted the first all-female prisoner exchange in the war with Russia
  • Footage released by Kiev showed dozens of women getting off white buses
  • The women are a mix of maids and civilians, Kiev said in a statement

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Ukraine exchanged more than 100 prisoners with Russia in what it said was the first women’s exchange since the start of the war.

“There has been another massive POW exchange… we have released 108 women from captivity. It was the first exclusively women-only exchange,” Ukraine’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said on social media.

Yermak said some of the Ukrainians exchanged were mothers and daughters held together.

Ukraine traded more than 100 prisoners with Russia in what it said was the first women's exchange since the start of the war

Ukraine traded more than 100 prisoners with Russia in what it said was the first women’s exchange since the start of the war

Women released from Russian captivity as part of a large-scale prisoner exchange carry their national flags upon arrival in Ukraine

Women released from Russian captivity as part of a large-scale prisoner exchange carry their national flags upon arrival in Ukraine

Women released from Russian captivity as part of a large-scale prisoner exchange carry their national flags upon arrival in Ukraine

A woman wrapped in a Ukrainian flag cries as she is hugged when she returns home

A woman wrapped in a Ukrainian flag cries as she is hugged when she returns home

A woman wrapped in a Ukrainian flag cries as she is hugged when she returns home

Thirty-seven, he added, had surrendered at the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol.

Footage released by Kiev shows dozens of women getting off white buses.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said ’96’ [swapped prisoners] are maids, including 37 evacuees from Azovstal, and 12 civilians’.

He added: “The more Russian prisoners we have, the sooner we can free our heroes.”

The chief of staff of the Ukrainian presidency, Andriy Yermak, said some of the Ukrainians exchanged were mothers and daughters held together.

The chief of staff of the Ukrainian presidency, Andriy Yermak, said some of the Ukrainians exchanged were mothers and daughters held together.

The chief of staff of the Ukrainian presidency, Andriy Yermak, said some of the Ukrainians exchanged were mothers and daughters held together.

Footage released by Kiev showed dozens of women getting off white buses

Footage released by Kiev showed dozens of women getting off white buses

Footage released by Kiev showed dozens of women getting off white buses

Denis Pushilin, head of the breakaway Donetsk region, said that of the 110 people who agreed to the swap, two decided to stay in Russia.

Denis Pushilin, head of the breakaway Donetsk region, said that of the 110 people who agreed to the swap, two decided to stay in Russia.

Denis Pushilin, head of the breakaway Donetsk region, said that of the 110 people who agreed to the swap, two decided to stay in Russia.

Denis Pushilin, head of the breakaway Donetsk region, said that of the 110 people who agreed to the swap, two decided to stay in Russia.

Moscow said 72 people who have returned from Ukraine are crew members of civilian ships detained since February.

It said all returnees would be flown to Moscow and provided with medical and psychological assistance.

Mariupol, a port city on the Sea of ​​Azov in southeastern Ukraine, endured weeks of relentless Russian bombing, centering resistance in a dense network of underground tunnels at the steel plant in Azovstal.

1666142005 924 More than 100 women are freed in first all female prisoner

1666142005 924 More than 100 women are freed in first all female prisoner

President Volodymyr Zelensky said ’96’ [swapped prisoners] are maids, including 37 evacuees from Azovstal, and 12 civilians

In the photo: two women with bouquets of flowers

In the photo: two women with bouquets of flowers

Pictured: A woman bursts into tears while talking on the phone

Pictured: A woman bursts into tears while talking on the phone

Women rejoice to be reunited with family and friends after the memorable prisoner swap

Women freed from Russian captivity are hugged as they arrive on the Ukrainian side in Zaporizhzhya, southeastern Ukraine

Women freed from Russian captivity are hugged as they arrive on the Ukrainian side in Zaporizhzhya, southeastern Ukraine

Women freed from Russian captivity are hugged as they arrive on the Ukrainian side in Zaporizhzhya, southeastern Ukraine