Russia, Ukraine announce major surprise prisoner swap

KYIV/RIYADH, Sept 21 (Reuters) – Russia and Ukraine carried out an sudden prisoner swap on Wednesday, the most important because the struggle started and involving virtually 300 individuals, together with 10 foreigners and the commanders who led a chronic Ukrainian defence of Mariupol earlier this 12 months.

The foreigners launched included two Britons and a Moroccan who had been sentenced to dying in June after being captured preventing for Ukraine. Also freed had been three different Britons, two Americans, a Croatian, and a Swedish nationwide.

The timing and magnitude of the swap got here as a surprise, given Russian President Vladimir Putin had introduced a partial troop mobilisation earlier within the day in an obvious escalation of the battle that started in February. Pro-Russian separatists had additionally stated final month that the Mariupol commanders would go on trial. learn extra

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated the swap – which concerned assist from Turkey and Saudi Arabia – had been below preparation for fairly a very long time and concerned intense haggling. Under the phrases of the deal, 215 Ukrainians – most of whom had been captured after the autumn of Mariupol – had been launched.

In change, Ukraine despatched again 55 Russians and pro-Moscow Ukrainians and Viktor Medvedchuk, the chief of a banned pro-Russian occasion who was going through treason expenses.

“This is clearly a victory for our country, for our entire society. And the main thing is that 215 families can see their loved ones safe and at home,” Zelenskiy stated in a video handle.

“We remember all our people and try to save every Ukrainian. This is the meaning of Ukraine, our essence, this is what distinguishes us from the enemy.”

Zelenskiy thanked Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan for his assist and stated 5 senior Ukrainian commanders would stay in Turkey till the tip of the struggle.

Kyiv had a protracted and troublesome combat to safe the discharge of the 5, he stated.

They embrace Lieutenant Colonel Denys Prokopenko, commander of the Azov battalion that did a lot of the preventing, and his deputy, Svyatoslav Palamar. Also freed was Serhiy Volynsky, the commander of the thirty sixth Marine Brigade.

The three males had helped lead a dogged weeks-long resistance from the bunkers and tunnels under Mariupol’s large metal works earlier than they and a whole lot of Azov fighters surrendered in May to Russian-backed forces.

“We’re proud of what you’ve done for our nation, proud of each and every one of you,” Zelenskiy stated in a video name with the 5 which was launched by his workplace.

There was no speedy remark from Moscow concerning the deal and why it had freed males who Russian-backed separatists stated would go on trial later this 12 months.

Saudi Arabia brokered an association whereby the ten foreigners had been flown to Saudi Arabia. The mediation concerned Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has maintained shut ties with Putin.

The freed prisoners included U.S. residents Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, each from Alabama, who had been captured in June whereas preventing in japanese Ukraine.

Also freed had been Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner and Moroccan Brahim Saadoun, who had been all sentenced to dying by a courtroom within the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic.

Large numbers of foreigners have travelled to Ukraine to combat since Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion.

The head of the U.N. human rights mission in Ukraine stated earlier this month that Russia was not permitting entry to prisoners of struggle, including that the U.N. had proof that some had been subjected to torture and ill-treatment that might quantity to struggle crimes. learn extra

Russia denies torture or different types of maltreatment of POWs.

Reporting by Valentyn Ogirenko in Kyiv, Aziz El Yaakoubi in Riyadh and David Ljunggren in Ottawa
Editing by Rosalba O’Brien

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.