KYIV/RIYADH: Russia and Ukraine carried out an unexpected prisoner swap on Wednesday, the largest since the war began and involving almost 300 people, including 10 foreigners and the commanders who led a prolonged Ukrainian defence of Mariupol earlier this year.
The foreigners released included two Britons and a Moroccan who had been sentenced to death in June after being captured fighting for Ukraine. Also freed were three other Britons, two Americans, a Croatian, and a Swedish national.
The timing and magnitude of the swap came as a surprise, given Russian President Vladimir Putin had announced a partial troop mobilisation earlier in the day in an apparent escalation of the conflict that began in February. Pro-Russian separatists had also said last month that the Mariupol commanders would go on trial.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the swap - which involved help from Turkey and Saudi Arabia - had been under preparation for quite a long time and involved intense haggling. Under the terms of the deal, 215 Ukrainians - most of whom were captured after the fall of Mariupol - were released.
In exchange, Ukraine sent back 55 Russians and pro-Moscow Ukrainians and Viktor Medvedchuk, the leader of a banned pro-Russian party who was facing treason charges.
"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 said in a video address.
"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 help and said five senior Ukrainian commanders would remain in Turkey until the end of the war.
Kyiv had a long and difficult fight to secure the release of the five, he said.
They include Lieutenant Colonel Denys Prokopenko, commander of the Azov battalion that did much of the fighting, and his deputy, Svyatoslav Palamar. Also freed was Serhiy Volynsky, the commander of the 36th Marine Brigade.
The three men had helped lead a dogged weeks-long resistance from the bunkers and tunnels below Mariupol's giant steel works before they and hundreds 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 said in a video call with the five which was released by his office.
There was no immediate comment from Moscow about the deal and why it had freed men who Russian-backed separatists said would go on trial later this year.
Saudi Arabia brokered an arrangement whereby the 10 foreigners were flown to Saudi Arabia. The mediation involved Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has maintained close ties with Putin.
The freed prisoners included U.S. citizens Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, both from Alabama, who were captured in June while fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Also freed were Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner and Moroccan Brahim Saadoun, who were all sentenced to death by a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.
Large numbers of foreigners have travelled to Ukraine to fight since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion.
The head of the U.N. human rights mission in Ukraine said earlier this month that Russia was not allowing access to prisoners of war, adding that the U.N. had evidence that some had been subjected to torture and ill-treatment that could amount to war crimes.
Russia denies torture or other forms of maltreatment of POWs.
Reuters
Thu Sep 22 2022
Prisoners of war are seen in the tarmac after arriving, following successful mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, from Russia to King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sept 21, 2022. - via REUTERS
PM Vietnam cadang ASEAN jadi model transformasi digital global
Perdana Menteri Vietnam mencadangkan orientasi kejayaan untuk menjadikan ASEAN sebagai model dalam transformasi digital di peringkat global.
Proses bedah siasat selesai, penghormatan terakhir mengikut tradisi tentera laut
Ridauddin Daud membawakan perkembangan terkini penghomatan terakhir kepada 10 mangsa insiden helikopter TLDM yang terhempas di Lumut.
[TERKINI] Anak menteri besar antara enam direman bersabit kes tuntutan palsu
Anak seorang menteri besar, Pegawai kanan Pejabat MB antara enam yang direman bagi bantu siasatan pemalsuan dokumen dan tuntutan palsu berjumlah RM600,000.
Agong berkenan meriahkan Majlis Sulaman Kasih Aidilfitri Kementerian Perpaduan
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim hari ini berkenan memeriahkan Majlis Sulaman Kasih Aidifitri Kementerian Perpaduan Negara.
[KOLUMNIS] Kawalan kendiri dapat perkukuh penguatkuasaan undang-undang AI
Tanpa kawalan kendiri, undang-undang mungkin menjadi tidak berkesan termasuklah dalam persoalan impak AI terhadap masyarakat.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Proses bedah siasat 10 mangsa selesai - TLDM
Proses bedah siasat melibatkan 10 mangsa nahas helikopter terhempas di Lumut yang dijalankan di Jabatan Forensik Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) selesai pada jam 2.20 petang Rabu.
AWANI Ringkas: Suspek kes tembak KLIA didakwa
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Jamaica secara rasmi iktiraf Palestin sebagai sebuah negara
Jamaica memutuskan untuk mengiktiraf secara rasmi Negara Palestin pada Selasa berikutan perbincangan dalam Kabinet pada hari sebelumnya.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Van jenazah tiba di HRPB, bawa jenazah ke 23 RAMD
Sebanyak 10 van jenazah Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) dilihat memasuki perkarangan Jabatan Forensik Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB), Ipoh pada jam 2.20 petang Rabu.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Kesemua mangsa diberikan penghormatan terakhir ikut istiadat TLDM
Kesemua mangsa tragedi helikopter terhempas di Pangkalan Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) Lumut, semalam akan diberi penghormatan terakhir mengikut istiadat rasmi TLDM.
13 maut, puluhan cedera ditembak secara rambang di sekolah
Suspek yang menggunakan dua pucuk pistol itu juga dilaporkan membunuh diri selepas melepaskan tembakan secara rambang.
Krisis Ukraine-Rusia: Apa punca sebenar?
Prof Mizan berpendapat, ketegangan antara dua negara itu boleh dikurangkan sekiranya Ukraine menangguhkan hasratnya menyertai NATO.
Krisis Rusia-Ukraine: Macron adakan pertemuan dengan Putin
Pemimpin Perancis itu berkata menyasarkan untuk "berdialog dengan Rusia dan mengurangkan ketegangan" melalui rundingan itu.
Rusia arah jet pejuang iringi pesawat peninjau AS di Laut Hitam
Hubungan dua hala antara AS dan Russia berada pada tahap terendah sejak Kesatuan Soviet berpecah pada 1991.
COVID-19: Kes positif cecah 202 juta dengan 4.2 juta kematian
Kes positif kini meningkat kepada 202 juta, dengan Amerika Syarikat kekal negara paling terjejas dengan lebih 35.7 juta kes.
Olimpik Tokyo: Syaqiera Mashayikh pamer panahan cemerlang sebelum tewas
Pemanah muda negara, Syaqiera Mashayikh, mempamerkan panahan cemerlang sebelum tewas 4-6 kepada peserta dari Jawatankuasa Olimpik Russia, Elena Osipova, dalam pusingan 32 acara recurve individu.
Pesawat Rusia bawa 28 penumpang dilaporkan hilang
Sebuah pesawat AN-26 Russia dengan 28 orang penumpang dilaporkan hilang di semenanjung Kamchatka di timur Russia, kata pihak berkuasa hari ini.
Menuju puncak! Sara Sofea yang pernah tawan Gunung Elbrus raih 9A SPM
Ternyata penglibatan dalam aktiviti sukan lasak tidak menghalang remaja berusia 18 tahun ini mencatat keputusan cemerlang 9A dalam peperiksaan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), baru-baru ini.
COVID-19: Kes jangkitan melebihi 141 juta, korban lebih 3 juta
Angka kes positif kini meningkat kepada 141.01 juta, dengan Amerika Syarikat kekal negara paling terjejas dengan lebih 31.6 juta kes.
Tahniah! Filem 'Belaban Hidup: Infeksi Zombie' muncul filem terbaik festival filem di Rusia
Filem indie, 'Belaban Hidup: Infeksi Zombie' memenangi kategori Filem Terbaik dan Filem Seram Terbaik di International Symbolic Art Film Festival (ISAFF) di St Petersburg, Rusia.