- Ukraine and Russia have concluded a monumental prisoner swap, Zelensky’s office stated.
- The swap means that 215 Ukrainians who were being captured by Russia will go again to their country.
- As component of the offer, Viktor Medvedchuk, a important Putin ally in Ukraine, has been despatched to Russia.
Ukraine and Russia have accomplished a prisoner swap in which hundreds of fighters and civilians had been returned to Ukraine in trade for the releasing of 55 Russians and Viktor Medvedchuk, Putin’s important ally in Ukraine and his daughter’s godfather.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s staff members Andriy Yermak stated in an update posted in the administration’s telegram channel that 215 Ukrainians ended up returned as a final result of the prisoner swap, which Yermak extra was also negotiated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Viktor Medvedchuk, an MP and 1 of Putin’s staunchest Ukrainian allies, was sent to Russia, Reuters claimed. He was arrested by Ukrainian authorities in April.
Amid the 215 Ukrainians unveiled were 100 fighters from the controversial, really hard suitable-wing Azov Battalion, which Russia has formerly identified as “neo-nazis.” Some founding customers of the paramilitary group which sprouted as a outcome of Russia’s 2014 invasion have also worn nazi paraphernalia and ascribed to the moniker.
5 of the Azov commanders will continue to be in Turkey until finally the war is about as component of the phrases of the offer, according to The Washington Post.
More than the earlier 30 many years, Medvedchuk has nurtured a close personalized and political connection with Putin, amassing an believed value of $620 million ahead of the war, in accordance to Forbes. When he was arrested in Ukraine, authorities seized a yacht, 23 homes, 32 flats, 30 items of land, and 26 automobiles.
Earlier on Wednesday, 10 international fighters preventing on behalf of Ukraine who were captured by Russia – together with two People in america – were also launched in a settlement negotiated in component by Saudi Arabia. The bilateral prisoner swap is a significant coup for Ukrainians, who have made substantial gains from Russian invaders in the latest weeks.