Russia yesterday released 10 foreigners it had captured in Ukraine, including five Britons and two Americans.
\nAccording to international media, the freed prisoners, who also included a Croatian, a Moroccan, and a Swedish national.
\nRussia also yesterday released 215 Ukrainians it took prisoner after a protracted battle for the port city of Mariupol earlier this year, including top military leaders, a senior official in Kyiv said.
\nThe freed Ukrainians included the commander and deputy commander of the Azov battalion that did much of the fighting, said Andriy Yermak, the head of President Volodymyr Zelensky\u2019s office.
\nThe US citizens released were Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, a family representative told Reuters yesterday.
\nThe pair, both from Alabama, were captured in June while fighting in eastern Ukraine, where they had gone to support Ukrainian troops resisting Russia\u2019s invasion.
\nUS national security adviser Jake Sullivan and secretary of state Antony Blinken welcomed the release of the two and thanked the Ukrainian government and the Saudi crown prince for their roles.
\nBritish prime minister Liz Truss hailed the release of the five British nationals on Twitter as \u201chugely welcome news\u201d after \u201cmonths of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families\u201d.
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