<p> Ukraine secured the release of 106 captured soldiers in a prisoner exchange with Russia on Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff said.</p>.<p>The soldiers, including eight officers, were captured fighting in the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut that Russia says it has captured, but where Kyiv's forces say they still have a small foothold.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/russia-terrorising-ukraine-zelenskyy-on-drone-attack-1221800.html" target="_blank">Russia 'terrorising' Ukraine: Zelenskyy on drone attack</a></strong></p>.<p>"Every one of them is a hero of our state. Many of the ones we are returning from captivity were considered missing. The relatives of these people have gone through a difficult time," the senior official, Andriy Yermak, said.</p>.<p>Tatiana Moskalkova, Russia's human rights ombudsman, confirmed Russia's Wagner private military unit took part in an exchange of fighters on Thursday but gave no further details.</p>.<p>Wagner played a key role in Russia's months-long onslaught on the city of Bakhmut where both sides likened the ferocious fighting to a "meatgrinder".</p>.<p>Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. Ukrainian military intelligence says that 2,430 Ukrainians have been freed in prisoner swaps, including 139 civilians.</p>
<p> Ukraine secured the release of 106 captured soldiers in a prisoner exchange with Russia on Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff said.</p>.<p>The soldiers, including eight officers, were captured fighting in the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut that Russia says it has captured, but where Kyiv's forces say they still have a small foothold.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/russia-terrorising-ukraine-zelenskyy-on-drone-attack-1221800.html" target="_blank">Russia 'terrorising' Ukraine: Zelenskyy on drone attack</a></strong></p>.<p>"Every one of them is a hero of our state. Many of the ones we are returning from captivity were considered missing. The relatives of these people have gone through a difficult time," the senior official, Andriy Yermak, said.</p>.<p>Tatiana Moskalkova, Russia's human rights ombudsman, confirmed Russia's Wagner private military unit took part in an exchange of fighters on Thursday but gave no further details.</p>.<p>Wagner played a key role in Russia's months-long onslaught on the city of Bakhmut where both sides likened the ferocious fighting to a "meatgrinder".</p>.<p>Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. Ukrainian military intelligence says that 2,430 Ukrainians have been freed in prisoner swaps, including 139 civilians.</p>