A Ukrainian plane carrying high-profile prisoners landed in Moscow, as the long-awaited prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine has finally begun, multiple reports indicate.
The government plane from Ukraine has landed at an airport near Moscow, TASS news agency reported on Saturday. A Russian aircraft also has reportedly landed in Kiev to pick up prisoners.
Two buses, purportedly carrying Ukrainians put up for the swap, were seen leaving a detention center escorted by police cars in Moscow earlier. The lawyer for the group of Ukrainian sailors held by Russia confirmed that they were heading for the exchange.
Из СИЗО «Лефортово» выехали два автобуса, предположительно, с украинскими военными, об освобождении которых вели переговоры Москва и Киев.
Предстоящее освобождение в ходе выступления на Восточном экономическом форуме анонсировал президент России Владимир Путин pic.twitter.com/CJpaf3bfMD
The head of the Russian state-run media agency, Dmitry Kiselyov, said that journalist Kirill Vyshinsky, who was charged with treason by Kiev, is preparing to be flown to Russia.
“Kirill is on the tarmac right now and will soon be taking off for Moscow.”
⚡️Фото от Кирилла Вышинского. Аэропорт Борисполь. Перед вылетом.
It is still unclear how many prisoners are involved in the exchange. Ukrainian lawyer Mark Feygin said that 35 Ukrainians are being swapped for 35 Russians. He claimed that filmmaker Oleg Sentsov is among the people to be handed over by Moscow.
The potential major prisoner exchange has been much-discussed in recent months. The talks were difficult, with officials on both sides remaining tight-lipped about the details. Negotiations stalled several times until Putin confirmed earlier this week that they were reaching the final stage.
Putin also expressed hope that the first prisoner swap in years would pave the way for repairing the strained relations the countries have had since Crimea’s reunification with Russia in 2014 and the start of the war in eastern Ukraine.
