Ukraine and Russia swapped 175 prisoners of war each on Saturday, according to officials from both sides, as they prepare to initiate a ceasefire for Orthodox Easter.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said ​Ukraine ‌had brought home 175 servicemen and seven civilians ⁠from Russian captivity. He said the Ukrainian servicemen had defended the country on different fronts ‌from the east to the south and most ⁠of them had been in captivity in Russia since 2022, The Caspian Post reports, citing foreign media.

Russia's Defence Ministry said the United Arab Emirates had mediated ​the exchange. Russia took back 175 servicemen and also seven civilians ‌originally from the Kursk region, the ministry said.

During more than four years of war, Kyiv and Moscow have carried out regular POW ‌exchanges. They are among the few concrete results to emerge from several rounds of ​US-brokered peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, which remain stalled over the issue of territory.

As both Ukraine and Russia celebrate Orthodox Easter ​this weekend, the countries have agreed on a short, 32-hour ​ceasefire to mark the holiday.

Russia said the ​ceasefire would begin at 4pm (13:00 GMT) on Saturday and end at midnight on Sunday. Zelensky ​said he and his army chief had discussed the procedures for Ukrainian troops under the ceasefire.

"The absence of Russian strikes in the air, on land, and at sea will mean no ⁠response from our side," he said.

"A ceasefire at Easter could also become ⁠the beginning ​of real movement toward peace - our side has made the corresponding proposal."