On December 30, Russia and Ukraine executed a significant prisoner exchange, returning 189 Ukrainians and 150 Russians. The deal, facilitated by the UAE, marks a substantial development in ongoing conflicts. President Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine's commitment to freeing all captives, with over 8,000 POWs still believed held by Russia. This exchange coincided with a new $2.5 billion U.S. military aid package for Ukraine, aiming to support its defense. Discrepancies in the numbers of exchanged prisoners remain unexplained, and past reports of brutality against POWs highlight the ongoing humanitarian concerns.