Her government Ukrainian announced yesterday Wednesday (21/9) the exchange of 215 military personnel, including officers who led the defense of the Azovstal steelworks, a battle that is for Kyiv a symbol of resistance to military invasion of Russia.
“We achieved the release of 215 persons”the largest since the invasion by the Russian army on February 24, he told state television Andrei Yermak, head of services of the Ukrainian presidency. 108 of them fought in Mariupol and Azovstal.
THE Russia for its part secured the release of 55 prisoners, including Viktor Medvedchuk, A former Ukrainian MP who is believed to have a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and was facing the charge of high treason, the Ukrainian president clarified Volodymyr Zelensky in his night sermon.
As part of this “long-planned operation”, five officers, including the chief of defense in Azovstal, were transferred to Turkey, Mr Zelenskiy added.
They will remain in this country “with absolute safety and in comfortable conditions” as “the end of the war” by virtue of an agreement with the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoganthe Ukrainian head of state also clarified.
Ten foreign prisoners of war – including five British and two Americans– which were airlifted earlier yesterday to Saudi Arabia in the context of this exchange between Moscow and Ukraine, they were part of the deal, always according to Mr. Zelensky.
US ‘thanks’ President Volodymyr Zelensky and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Meanwhile, the US thanked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his government for “including two US citizens in the announced prisoner exchange” with Russia, US presidential national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.
“Thank you to the Crown Prince (Saudi Arabia’s HRH Mohammed bin Salman) and the Saudi government for facilitating” the operation, Mr Sullivan added via Twitter.
Russian forces on Wednesday released five British nationals, two US nationals, a Croatian national, a Moroccan national and a Swedish national, among 10 foreigners captured during hostilities in Ukraine, as part of a deal to prisoner exchange brokered by Riyadh.
The two Americans are Alexander Drucki, 39, and Andy Huen, 27, a representative of their families told Reuters. Both are from Alabama and were captured in June while fighting in eastern Ukraine alongside Ukrainian forces.
“Extremely welcome news,” said Liz Truss
For her part, British Prime Minister Liz Truss welcomed the “extremely welcome” news of the release of five British prisoners of war held by Russia.
“Extremely welcome news: five British citizens held by pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine have been released safe and sound,” she tweeted.
Britain’s Aiden Ashlin is also among the freed prisoners, according to British MP Robert Jenrick. “I am delighted that Aiden Ashlin and the other British prisoners of war have finally been released and are returning to the UK,” he said in a statement, without naming the others. Ashlin and fellow Brit Sean Pinner were sentenced to death by a court in the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic”. Moroccan-born Brahim Saadoun was also sentenced to death.
Many foreigners traveled to Ukraine to fight with Ukrainian forces after Russia invaded on February 24. Some were captured by Russian forces, along with other foreigners who were in Ukraine and say they did not take part in the war.
Source: News Beast
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