Those released include prisoners of war from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom and Morocco, some of whom had been sentenced to death after being captured in Ukraine and accused of being mercenaries. Russia also freed about 215 Ukrainians, including the five commanders who led a protracted Ukrainian defense of the southern port city of Mariupol earlier this year. In return, Ukraine sent back 55 pro-Moscow Russians and Ukrainians and Viktor Medvedchuk, the leader of a banned pro-Russian party facing treason charges. The deal, struck with the help of Saudi Arabia and Turkey, had been in the works for some time and involved intense negotiations. “It is clearly a victory for our country, for our whole society. And the main thing is that 215 families can see their loved ones safe and at home,” Zelenskiy said in a video lecture in which he also thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his help. “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.” Saudi Arabia earlier announced the release of the 10 foreigners, after mediation by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, “following the [his] commitment to humanitarian initiatives on the Russian-Ukrainian crisis,” according to a Saudi foreign ministry statement. The group included five British nationals, two Americans, one Croatian, one Moroccan and one Swedish national, the ministry said in a statement, adding that a plane carrying the detainees had landed in the kingdom and that Saudi authorities were “facilitating procedures for their safety. return to their respective countries”. The ministry did not identify those released by name. British lawmaker Robert Jenrick said Aiden Ashlin was among those released. Ashlin was arrested earlier this year and sentenced to death by a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), one of Russia’s proxies in eastern Ukraine. Russia also released US citizens Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, a family spokesman told Reuters news agency on Wednesday. The couple, both from Alabama, were arrested in June while fighting in eastern Ukraine, where they went to support Ukrainian troops resisting the Russian invasion. Thanks to @ZelenskyyUa, @AndriyYermak and the Ukrainian government for including 2 US citizens in the prisoner exchange announced today. We thank the Crown Prince and the Government of Saudi Arabia for the facilitation. We look forward to reuniting our citizens with their families. — Jake Sullivan (@JakeSullivan46) September 21, 2022 In a tweet, Jake Sullivan, US President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, thanked Ukraine “for the participation of 2 American citizens in the prisoner exchange.” Sullivan also thanked the Saudi crown prince and the Gulf country’s government for facilitating their release. “We look forward to reuniting our citizens with their families,” he wrote. British Prime Minister Liz Truss hailed the release of the British nationals on Twitter as “extremely welcome news” after “months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families”. The news that five British nationals held by Russian-backed proxies in eastern Ukraine have been returned safely is extremely welcome, ending months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families. — Liz Truss (@trussliz) September 21, 2022 Truss said they had been “held by Russian-backed proxies in eastern Ukraine” and thanked both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Saudi Arabia for helping to free them. Large numbers of foreigners have traveled to Ukraine to fight since Russia invaded on February 24. Some of them have been caught by Russian forces, along with other foreigners in the country who say they were not combatants. Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said on Twitter that the Swedish citizen, who is being held in Donetsk, “has now been exchanged and is fine”. He also thanked Ukraine and Saudi Arabia. Prince Mohammed bin Salman has maintained close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, including within the OPEC+ oil producer group, despite strong pressure from Washington, Riyadh’s traditional ally, to isolate Russia. Ukrainian and Russian forces have captured hundreds of enemy fighters since the conflict began, with a handful of prisoner exchanges. The head of the United Nations human rights mission in Ukraine said earlier this month that Russia was not allowing access to prisoners of war (POWs), adding that the United Nations had evidence that some had been subjected to torture and ill-treatment that could amount to war crimes. Russia denies torture or ill-treatment of prisoners. The Swedish citizen held in Donetsk has now been exchanged and is doing well. I have worked closely with my Ukrainian colleague and I would like to express my deepest gratitude. A warm thank you also goes to Saudi Arabia. — Ann Linde (@AnnLinde) September 21, 2022
