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5 British nationals released in Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap
Five British prisoners of war have been released as part of a Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap negotiated by Saudi Arabia, the Middle Eastern country’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday (Sep 21).
Ten prisoners of war overall had been released, five from Britain, and the other five from Croatia, Morocco, Sweden, and the US, the Saudi statement said.
British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Wednesday (Sep 21) welcomed the release and transfer to Riyadh of five UK prisoners of war who had been held in east Ukraine.
The prime minister, who is in New York, tweeted: "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."
She thanked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Saudi Arabia for helping free the detainees.
British lawmaker Robert Jenrick on Wednesday seperately said Aiden Aslin was among the prisoners released by Russia on Wednesday following the mediation by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
"I am delighted that my constituent, Aiden Aslin, and the other British prisoners of war held captive by the Russian authorities have finally been released and are on their way back to the UK," Jenrick said in an emailed statement.
Ukraine must demine 12,000 km2 of liberated areas in Kharkiv region
Aslin was captured earlier this year then sentenced to death by a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), one of Russia's proxies in eastern Ukraine.
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: "This brings to an end many months of uncertainty and suffering, including the threat of the death penalty, for them and their families, at the hands of Russia.”
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