- Russia recovered 55 prisoners, including former Ukrainian deputy Viktor Medvedchuk, close to Vladimir Putin
Ukraine announced on Wednesday the release of 215 soldiers in an exchange with Russia, including the leaders of the defense of the Azovstal steelworks in the city of Mariupol, a symbol of resistance to the invasion.
“We have managed to free 215 people,” the head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, told television.
Ukrainian Putin ally Viktor Medvedchuk exchanged for 200 Azov battalion fighters, Zelenskiy says https://t.co/zkhk8A9H9K
— The Guardian (@guardian) September 22, 2022
For its part, Russia recovered 55 prisoners, including former Ukrainian deputy Viktor Medvedchuk, close to Vladimir Putin and accused of high treason by kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski said in his daily speech.
Within the framework of this “long-prepared operation”, five military commanders, including the leaders of the Azovstal defense, were transferred to Turkey, Zelensky said. They will remain in this country “in absolute security and in comfortable conditions” until “the end of the war” according to the agreement reached with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, added the Ukrainian head of state.
Ukraine's president says 215 Ukrainian and foreign citizens have been released by Russia in a prisoner exchange. Among those freed by Kyiv is Viktor Medvedchuk, a former pro-Russian Ukrainian politician and a close associate of Vladimir Putin. https://t.co/m9SMR0bHjf
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 21, 2022
Zelensky also pointed out that this exchange includes the previously announced release of 10 prisoners of war transferred to Saudi Arabia, including five British and two Americans.