Ninety-five Russian servicemen were seen getting into a bus following their release from captivity to leave Kiev-controlled territory, the Russian Defence Ministry's press service reported on Friday.

"We are strong in spirit, so there is no need to despair. The emotions are overwhelming," one of the servicemen said.

According to the defence ministry, the United Arab Emirates served as a mediator during negotiations, which resulted in the exchange of 95 AFU prisoners.

"At present, all Russian servicemen are on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, where they are provided with the necessary psychological and medical care as well as an opportunity to contact their relatives," the ministry said, adding that the servicemen will later be handed over to the Russian Federation.

For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that 95 of his country's citizens had been returned as a result of the exchange.

Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.

Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.

The date and location of the footage published by the Russian Defence Ministry cannot be independently verified.