Russia and Ukraine carried out a major prisoner swap on Monday, with 106 Russian prisoners of war being freed in exchange for 100 Ukrainians, both sides said. In a Telegram post, Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak said the released Ukrainians included defenders of Mariupol city and its Azovstal steel plant, captured in the war's opening months. Russia's Defense Ministry said its prisoners were freed after a process of negotiations. Russia and Ukraine have engaged in periodic prisoner swaps since the beginning of the war in February 2022, in a rare example of direct contact between the enemies.