MOSCOW \/ KYIV
\nRussia and Ukraine have carried out a surprise prisoner swap involving nearly 300 people, the largest since Moscow\u2019s invasion began nearly seven months ago.
\nThose 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.
\nRussia also freed some 215 Ukrainians, including the five commanders who led a prolonged Ukrainian defence of the southern port city of Mariupol earlier this year.
\nIn exchange, Ukraine sent back 55 Russians and pro-Moscow Ukrainians and Viktor Medvedchuk, the leader of a banned pro-Russian party who was facing charges of treason.
\nThe deal, hammered out with the help of Saudi Arabia and Turkey, had been under preparation for some time and involved intense haggling.
\n\u201cThis 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,\u201d Zelenskyy said in a video address in which he also thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his help.
\n\u201cWe 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.\u201d
\nSaudi Arabia earlier announced the release of the 10 foreigners, following mediation by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, \u201cin continuation of [his] commitment to the humanitarian initiatives towards the Russian-Ukrainian crisis\u201d, according to a statement from the Saudi foreign ministry.
\nThe group included five British nationals, two Americans, a Croatian, a Moroccan and a Swedish citizen, the ministry said in a statement, adding that a plane carrying the prisoners had landed in the kingdom and that Saudi authorities were \u201cfacilitating procedures for their safe return to their respective countries\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MOSCOW \/ KYIV Russia and Ukraine have carried out a surprise prisoner swap involving nearly 300 people, the largest since Moscow\u2019s invasion began nearly seven months ago. 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":285075,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-285057","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n