Ten prisoners of war (PoW) from countries including the United States and Britain have been transferred to Saudi Arabia as part of an exchange between Russia and Ukraine, Saudi officilals said Wednesday September 21.
According to a statement from the ministry, the prisoners of war include five British nationals, two Americans, a Croatian, a Moroccan, and a Swedish national. It also said that a plane carrying the prisoners had landed in the kingdom.
The Saudi statement said they had arrived in the kingdom from Russia and that Saudi authorities were “facilitating procedures for their safe return to their respective countries.”
According to the Saudi foreign ministry, the release followed mediation by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, “in continuation of (his) commitment to the humanitarian initiatives towards the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.”
The Saudi statement said they had arrived from Russia and that Saudi authorities were “facilitating procedures for their safe return to their respective countries.”
However, Aiden Aslin was reportedly among those released, according to British lawmaker Robert Jenrick. Aslin was apprehended earlier this year and later found guilty of murder by a court in the DPR, one of Russia’s proxies in eastern Ukraine.
British Prime Minister Liz Truss said the release of the Britons was “hugely welcome news… ending months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families.”
According to Reuters, Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, were also freed by Russia.
The two, who are both from Alabama, were taken prisoner in June while fighting alongside Ukrainian troops in eastern Ukraine who were fending off Russian invaders.
Since the start of the conflict, hundreds of enemy combatants have been taken prisoner by Ukrainian and Russian forces, and a few prisoner exchanges have also occurred.
