Saraliev reported on the first prisoner exchange with Ukraine this year.

157 Russian soldiers and three civilians have been returned to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange with Ukraine, according to Shamsail Saraliev, a State Duma deputy from Chechnya.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot", in May 2025, Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners in three stages based on the "1,000 for 1,000" formula, in accordance with the agreements reached during the Istanbul talks. In June, the prisoner exchange with Ukraine continued in accordance with the agreements reached on June 2 in Istanbul; the return of groups of servicemen was reported on June 12, 15, and 19. Shamsail Saraliev, a State Duma deputy from Chechnya, has been negotiating the return of prisoners for more than three years. In July, Saraliev announced the return of a new group of soldiers from Ukrainian captivity. Among those exchanged was a resident of Vladikavkaz. On August 24, an exchange took place according to the 185-for-185 formula. On October 2, as part of the exchange, 185 Russian soldiers and 20 civilians were returned to Russia.

The prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine took place today, State Duma Deputy and representative of the Parliamentary Coordination Group on Military Defense Issues Shamail Saraliev announced on his Telegram channel. "Our military personnel, numbering 157 and three civilians, have returned to Russia from Ukrainian captivity. The same number of people have returned to Ukraine," he wrote.

According to the Ministry of Defense, Russian servicemen are currently in the Republic of Belarus, where they are receiving the necessary psychological and medical assistance, TASS reports.

"The United Arab Emirates and the United States provided humanitarian mediation efforts during the return of Russian servicemen from captivity," the Ministry of Defense reported on its Telegram channel.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov participated in talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on January 29. In the Kremlin, Kadyrov spoke about the talks with the Ukrainian side regarding the end of the special military operation. He expressed a desire to see it through "to the end," Mayak radio reported. "Negotiations after everything that has been done... I am against negotiations," Kadyrov said.