Russia releases Ukraine’s Azovstal garrison for Putin’s ally, others

Russia has released Ukraine’s Azovstal garrison, as per Illia Ponomarenko, defence reporter with The Kyiv Independent.  

He said, “five Azovstal garrison leaders are to stay in Turkey under Erdogan’s personal protection until the end of the war. It’s extraction.”

The reporter continued, “215 Ukrainians for 55 Russians and just one Viktor Medvedchuk”, adding that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced, “The whole nation has something to have a drink for tonight”. 

Dubai-based Al Arabia news reported on the ongoing efforts to swap 50 Ukrainians in exchange for 200 Russians, including one of Putin’s close allies – Viktor Medvedchuk. He was Russian President Vladimir Putin’s main man in Ukraine and was often called the “dark prince” of Ukrainian politics. Putin is also the godfather of Medvedchuk’s youngest daughter. 

This exchange comes after he ordered the partial mobilization of the military – a first for the nation since World War II. Russia’s Defense Minister, and staunch Putin supporter, Sergei Shoigu said there are 300,000 reservists who would be called to protect what the Kremlin is claiming to be its lands. Ukraine has recently launched a counteroffensive, managing to gain ground in places like Izyum and Kupiansk and around Kharkiv.

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Putin, in his latest decision, also warned that he was not bluffing about using nuclear weapons. The Russia-Ukraine war has carried on for seven months. The Azovstal garrison is made up of those who remained in the Mariupol steel plant, refusing to give up the final bit of the Azov Sea port city. 

Both the US and UK governments have also welcomed their POWs back. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said, “We thank @ZelenskyyUa, @AndriyYermak and the Ukrainian government for including 2 U.S. citizens in the prisoner exchange announced today. We thank the Crown Prince and the Government of Saudi Arabia for facilitating. We look forward to our citizens being reunited with their families.” 

Newly elected British PM, Liz Truss, added, “Russia must end the ruthless exploitation of prisoners of war and civilian detainees for political ends.”