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Russia, Ukraine Have Exchanged 175 Prisoners of War Each, Moscow Says

Freed Russian prisoners of war sit on a bus following a swap on February 5, 2025, at an undisclosed location. © Handout, Russian Defence Ministry, AFP / File picture
Freed Russian prisoners of war sit on a bus following a swap on February 5, 2025, at an undisclosed location. © Handout, Russian Defence Ministry, AFP / File picture
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Russia, Ukraine Have Exchanged 175 Prisoners of War Each, Moscow Says

Freed Russian prisoners of war sit on a bus following a swap on February 5, 2025, at an undisclosed location. © Handout, Russian Defence Ministry, AFP / File picture
Freed Russian prisoners of war sit on a bus following a swap on February 5, 2025, at an undisclosed location. © Handout, Russian Defence Ministry, AFP / File picture

Russia has conducted a prisoner exchange with Ukraine finalized during a telephone call between US President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin, Russia's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

It said in a statement that 175 Ukrainian soldiers had been swapped for 175 Russian servicemen, Reuters reported.

Moscow had handed over an additional 22 heavily wounded Ukrainian prisoners in need of urgent medical care in what it described as a goodwill gesture.

Russian soldiers freed in the deal are in Belarus awaiting transit to Russia, it added

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Switzerland to Enact Hamas Ban from May 15

FILED - 08 February 2025, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: Fighters of the Ezz al-Din Al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas form a corridor as Israeli hostages get delivered to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
FILED - 08 February 2025, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: Fighters of the Ezz al-Din Al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas form a corridor as Israeli hostages get delivered to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
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Switzerland to Enact Hamas Ban from May 15

FILED - 08 February 2025, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: Fighters of the Ezz al-Din Al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas form a corridor as Israeli hostages get delivered to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
FILED - 08 February 2025, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: Fighters of the Ezz al-Din Al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas form a corridor as Israeli hostages get delivered to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa

A new Swiss law banning Hamas and related organizations will come into force on May 15, the government said on Wednesday, aiming to prevent the Palestinian militant group from using Switzerland as a safe haven by making entry bans or expulsions easier to arrange.
The law, which was approved by parliament last December and came in the wake of Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, gives Swiss authorities "the necessary tools to take action against Hamas activities or support for the organization in Switzerland," the government said, according to Reuters.
The Gaza war started after Hamas' attack which killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's offensive on the enclave has killed more than 52,000, according to local Palestinian health officials.
The Swiss law enables preventive police measures such as entry bans or expulsions, and also makes it more difficult for Hamas to use Switzerland as a financial hub for its activities.