Ukrainian prisoners freed in Russian exchange brokered by Vatican

The war in Ukraine continues. Occasionally, Russia agrees to release prisoners. This time, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the return of 10 civilian prisoners from Russian and Belarusian captivity. Ukrainian media report that this marks the 53rd prisoner exchange between the nations.

I am grateful to everyone who helped. I thank our team working to free the prisoners. I also want to acknowledge the efforts of the Holy See in bringing these people home - cites kyivpost.com quoting Volodymyr Zelensky.

According to kyivpost.com, among those who returned to the country is Nariman Dzhelal, Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People - the only high-ranking representative and executive body of the Crimean Tatar population. The politician was likely captured in Crimea in 2021.

Additionally, the Russians returned two priests from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church who were captured in Berdyansk. The reason was allegedly resistance against the occupiers. They are Bohdan Geleta and Ivan Lewicki. Russian media reported that both Redemptorists possessed weapons and explosives, as well as "extremist" literature.

The Vatican was involved in the priests' release, but the Holy See's exact role is unknown. The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church expressed gratitude for saving the priests. He thanked Pope Francis, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, and Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine. Both were reportedly involved in the mediation.

Kyivpost.com also reports that historian and researcher from the Horlivka Art Museum Olena Pekh and political prisoner Valeriy Matiushenko were freed. Both were detained in the Donetsk region.

The rest of those freed were arrested in Belarus. They were reportedly informing the Ukrainian side about the movements of Russian troops.