Azovstal defenders free
Kyiv, Moscow agree on prisoner swap
Ukraine has announced the exchange of a record-high 215 imprisoned soldiers with Russia, including fighters who led the defence of Mariupol’s Azovstal steelworks that became an icon of Ukrainian resistance.
Russia received 55 prisoners including Viktor Medvedchuk, a former Ukrainian lawmaker and ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin accused of high treason, Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky said in his daily address on Wednesday (local time).
The swap was the biggest exchange between the warring sides since the start of Russia’s invasion in February.
Ten prisoners of war from countries including the US and Britain were earlier on Wednesday transferred to Saudi Arabia as part of the exchange between Moscow and Kyiv, Mr Zelensky said.
Five military commanders including leaders of the defence of Azovstal were taken to Turkey as part of an operation prepared well in advance and agreed with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mr Zelensky said. Those released will remain in Turkey “in total security and in comfortable conditions” until the end of the war.
The Ukrainian forces’ longstanding refusal to surrender at Azovstal despite shortages of ammunition and supplies earned them praise across the country for their heroism in defying overwhelming odds against Russia’s superior numbers and firepower.
The prisoners of war transferred to Saudi Arabia comprised five British nationals, two Americans and one each from Morocco, Sweden and Croatia, according to a Saudi official.
A Saudi statement said they had arrived in the kingdom from Russia and that Saudi authorities were “facilitating procedures for their safe return to their respective countries”.
British Prime Minister Liz Truss said on Twitter that the release of the Britons was “hugely welcome news... ending months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families”.
Ms Truss said they had been “held by Russian-backed proxies in eastern Ukraine”, and thanked Mr Zelensky and Saudi Arabia for helping free them.
MP Robert Jenrick on Twitter
identified one of the British detainees as “my constituent” Aiden Aslin, who had been sentenced to death in June as an alleged mercenary after being captured by pro-Russian separatists.
Mr Jenrick said the British detainees were “on their way back to the UK” and that Mr Aslin’s family “could finally be at peace”.
The White House thanked Mr Zelensky and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for facilitating the exchange.
“We look forward to our cit
izens being reunited with their families,” US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement on Twitter.
The Moroccan detainee is Brahim Saadoun, who was also sentenced to death in June by the unrecognised Donetsk People’s Republic, according to a Moroccan official.