Russia replaces Ukrainian fighters with Putin’s biggest ally in Kyiv

Government Ukraine On Thursday, 22, she was informed that she had carried out the largest prisoner exchange with the Arab Republic of Egypt Russia since the beginning of the war. The agreement came after Turkish mediation, with negotiations conducted in complete secrecy, in which a prominent ally of the Russian resident participated, Russian President Vladimir Putinin Kyiv.

According to a statement issued by the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr ZelenskyMoscow released 215 prisoners, including Ukrainian border guards, police, soldiers and others, as well as Ukrainian fighters. Azov Battalion, captured in May distance A siege that lasted for months at the steel mills in Azovstalin Mariupol.

In addition to the Ukrainians, ten foreigners, including five Britons and two American citizens, took part in the prisoner exchange. The foreigners were transferred from Russia to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, 21 years old, according to information published by the British newspaper. Watchman.

In return, Russia took 55 prisoners from Ukraine, including the former Ukrainian MP. Victor MedvedchukPutin’s main ally in Kyiv.

Leader One of the main opposition parties in Ukraine In April while trying to escape house arrest. The billionaire, whose daughter was Putin’s granddaughter, was tempted to eventually take over a new government if Russian forces succeeded in overthrowing the Ukrainian government.

At that time, Zelensky asked Russia to exchange Medvedchuk for Ukrainian prisoners of war, but the Kremlin refused the offer. The Ukrainian leader assessed the negotiations that have now taken place as a good deal.

“I am not sad that Medvedchuk was replaced by real warriors. He went through all investigation procedures in accordance with the law and Ukraine got everything it needed to know the truth from him. “

The news of the exchange came just a day after the Russian president, in a rare televised address, announced the… Recruit more than 300,000 new soldiers He threatened to use nuclear weapons against Western countries.

+ Russia can use nuclear weapons to defend territory, says Medvedev

Zelensky said that five military commanders, including from the Azov regiment, would remain in Turkey “in complete safety and in comfortable conditions” until the end of the war. The battalion members became national heroes after resisting a nearly three-month siege in the eastern Mariupol region.

In Russia, however, the soldiers of the regiment they were The Supreme Court designated them as “terrorists.” in August. The military unit, which is part of the Ukrainian National Guard, has been criticized for it His ultra-nationalist origin and to show Nazi symbols.

The Russian embassy in Britain tweeted in July that the fighters should be hanged. “They deserve a humiliating death,” the statement read. The Russians are now struggling to explain why the fighters were released.