10 foreign citizens were released from Russian captivity, some of them were sentenced to death
Ten foreign citizens were released from Russian captivity as part of a sprawling prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine brokered with involvement from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the United States “is appreciative of Ukraine including all prisoners of war, regardless of nationality, in its negotiations, and we look forward to these U.S. citizens being reunited with their families.” Blinken also thanked “our Saudi partners for helping to spearhead this humanitarian initiative,” the Washington Post reports.
Among released prisoners, there were citizens of the United States, Britain, Morocco, Sweden, and Croatia. Several had been sentenced to death by Russian-backed forces.
British Prime Minister Liz Truss said on Twitter that it was “hugely welcome news that five British nationals held by Russian-backed proxies in eastern Ukraine are being safely returned, ending months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families.”
