After nearly seven months of war, Ukraine and Russia have announced a major prisoner swap. 205 Ukrainians returned from Russian captivity, the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, announced Thursday evening. Among the 55 Russian prisoners of war was pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, a close confidant of President Vladimir Putin.
Medvedchuk is said to be one of the richest people in Ukraine. According to his own statements, Putin is the godfather of his youngest daughter. The relationship with the Kremlin boss brought the end of the politician last year: he was charged with high treason and was placed under house arrest. When Russian troops entered Ukraine at the end of February, he managed to go into hiding for weeks during the war.
To the Ukrainian According to Yermak, among those who returned home were the commanders of the defense of Mariupol, who entrenched themselves in the Azovstal steel factory and resisted the Russian conquerors until mid-May. “Our heroes are free,” he wrote on Telegram.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally thanked some of the liberated soldiers via video link on Wednesday evening. At the same time, he tried to take the wind out of the sails of critics who saw Medvedchuk as an important prisoner and opposed his release. “It is not a pity to exchange Medvedchuk for real warriors. Ukraine got everything from him in the course of the investigation,” Zelenskyy said.
Has Turkey mediated?
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the exchange was brokered by Turkey, state Anadolu news agency reported Wednesday evening. Erdogan called the agreement an “important step” toward ending the war in the United States Ukraine.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
