13:56 Civilians killed or injured in multiple attacks
Multiple cities in Ukraine report deaths and injuries due to Russian attacks, according to authorities. A woman died and another civilian was injured in Kupjansk, the governor of the Kharkiv region reported. In Derhachi, a bus filled with construction workers was attacked by a drone, with seven injuries reported. In Kherson, pedestrians were attacked by a drone that dropped an explosive, killing a 54-year-old and injuring a 75-year-old.
13:34 ISW: Russians slowly but steadily advancing in the eastRussian forces appear to be making progress in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. West of Avdiivka, they continue to advance slowly and steadily towards Pokrovsk, according to an analysis by the U.S. think tank "Institute for the Study of War". This is likely due to personnel shortages in the Ukrainian army and the terrain. If Russian forces advance into areas with larger settlements, the advances will likely slow down further.
13:12 Russia hands over 250 Ukrainian soldier bodiesUkraine has received the bodies of 250 of its soldiers from Russia. Among them are remains of fallen soldiers from the Donetsk region in Bachmut, Marinka, and Avdiivka, as well as from the port city of Mariupol, the coordination staff for prisoner affairs announced on Telegram. The handover was facilitated by international organizations. Images show staff from the International Committee of the Red Cross. The bodies will be identified and handed over to the families for burial.
12:48 CDU foreign policy expert Hardt: All Germans in Russia or Belarus could become victimsCDU foreign policy expert Jürgen Hardt sees the release of the so-called Tiergarten murderer in the context of a prisoner exchange as ambiguous. He fears that "the propaganda effect for Putin is enormous," Hardt said in the ARD "Morning Magazine." The Russian president could now tell any hired killer practically: "You see, I get you out." The policy must be clear that "we have come onto a slippery slope," Hardt said. All Germans who are now in Russia or Belarus must be warned that they could become victims, and "we must protect those who are with us." At the same time, he welcomes the release of the 16 people imprisoned in Russia and Belarus.
12:13 Kremlin confirms Tiergarten murderer is Russian secret agentThe man released by Germany in a prisoner exchange, Vadim Krasikov, is a member of the Russian secret service FSB, the Kremlin said. "Krasikov is a member of the FSB," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Krasikov, who was sentenced to life in prison in Berlin in 2021 for murder, belonged to an elite unit of the secret service.
11:22 Gershkovich Proposes Interview with PutinFreed U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich reportedly asked Russian President Putin for an interview just before the prisoner swap, according to the "Wall Street Journal" which Gershkovich works for. He had to fill out an official pardon application in prison, which included a blank field for personal remarks. Instead of leaving it blank, Gershkovich filled it out in "formal Russian, which he had learned in the 16 months of his detention." In the last line, he proposed to Putin: "Would you be willing to sit down for an interview after my release?" No response from the Russian president is known. Read more here.
11:00 Number of Russian Contract Soldiers May Be ExaggeratedRussia is trying to attract volunteers for the war against Ukraine with cash bonuses. However, the number of new recruits may be significantly lower than claimed by the Russian Ministry of Defense, writes the independent Russian-language online media outlet "Important Stories" based in Riga. According to a joint analysis by "Important Stories" and the "Conflict Intelligence Team," which specializes in open-source information, around 426,000 Russians received a lump sum for signing a contract between fall 2022 and April 2024. This is indicated by data from the federal budget. The ministry, however, has spoken of 640,000 contract soldiers by that time.
10:30 Baerbock Sees Dilemma in Release of Tiergarten MurdererForeign Minister Annalena Baerbock is relieved about the release of those imprisoned in Russia and Belarus. However, in an interview with Bayerischer Rundfunk, she acknowledges that the exchange was a "highly sensitive dilemma," as Germany had to release a "hired killer" from Russia as well. The decision on the exchange "was not easy for anyone in the federal government." It also "rightly leads to a lot of discussion," the minister says.
10:04 Jaeger: "We're Back in a Time When Russia Takes Hostages"In the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War, Moscow releases a convicted murderer. Critics see this deal as an incentive for the Kremlin to make more arbitrary arrests. The West has to accept this, says political scientist Thomas Jaeger.
09:36 Röttgen Has Mixed Feelings About Deal: Huge Concession for Rule of LawCDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen views the deal between Russia and the West with mixed feelings. "In the end, I support the decision." In an interview with Deutschlandfunk, Röttgen says: "This is a huge concession that the German state, the rule of law, has accepted here for a higher good, which is humanity, freedom, health, and liberation from torture for 16 people, so it's a give and take." He understands those who had a hard time with this. He is referring to the exchange of the Tiergarten murderer Vadim Krasikov.
09:00 Munz Assesses Prisoner Exchange: "Everyone Has Seen: Germany is Vulnerable"ntv Russia correspondent Rainer Munz sees a fatal signal for Germans living abroad in the prisoner exchange between Moscow and Berlin. The Kremlin is also increasing pressure on opposition figures at home and abroad.
08:33 Biden Praises "Remarkable" ScholzAccording to US President Biden, the prisoner swap was a "tough nut to crack" for the US's allies. Particularly Germany and Slovenia had to make decisions that were "against their immediate interests," Biden said. He praised Chancellor Scholz as being "remarkable." An aircraft carrying released US citizens landed in the US overnight (local time). Another 13 people, including several Germans, landed in Cologne. In exchange for the release of political prisoners and Kremlin critics, Germany, the US, and partner countries released a convicted murderer and prisoners from Russia suspected of espionage. Read more here.
08:04 Analyst Believes Putin Got What He WantedAnalyst Tom Nichols believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin got what he wanted in the prisoner swap. The US political scientist said on CNN that the Kremlin sent a clear warning to people in the West that those who set foot in Russia could become the next bargaining chip in a deal. Putin's government is "taking people and weighing them like meat until they get the kind of deal they want," Nichols believes. He also thinks Putin wanted to send a message to his supporters that he would rescue them if they were caught and that they are valuable to him.
07:26 Stationing of Long-Range Missiles Can Proceed Without Bundestag DecisionEspecially from the SPD, there is criticism that the planned deployment of long-range US weapons in Germany was decided and announced without the Bundestag. However, this is not necessary. The Scientific Service of the Bundestag comes to this conclusion. The planned deployment is likely to take place "within the framework of the NATO alliance," it says in a current briefing. The legal basis would presumably be the NATO treaty and the status of forces agreement, which regulates the legal status of foreign military forces in Germany. In July, the US government and the German government announced that the US would again station weapons systems in Germany from 2026 that reach far into Russia. Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed fears that this could lead to escalation with Russia. However, the former SPD chairman, Norbert Walter-Borjans, said that such a decision should be discussed within the SPD and in the Bundestag. The deputy chairman of the Union faction, Johann Wadephul, also called for a debate on this in the Bundestag.
06:36 Biden Visibly Moved: "It's a Wonderful Feeling"US President Biden appears visibly moved upon the arrival of released prisoners from Russia in their home country. "It's a wonderful feeling," he says after welcoming his fellow citizens on US soil. "I was absolutely convinced that we could do this." His vice president, Kamala Harris, explains that "it's an incredible day" - one can see that in the tears of joy from the families. The prisoner swap is an "extraordinary demonstration of how important it is to have a president who understands the power of diplomacy."
06:00 Harris Praises Courage of Freed American DetaineesUS Vice President Kamala Harris praised the courage of the Americans released from Russian detention as part of a prisoner exchange. Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, Evan Gershkovich, and US green card holder Vladimir Kara-Murza had shown "incredible bravery" after being wrongfully imprisoned in Russia.
05:55 Biden, Harris, and Families Welcome Freed AmericansThree Americans freed in a prisoner exchange were greeted by their families, President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris upon their arrival at a US air force base. Journalist Evan Gershkovich, his colleague Alsu Kurmasheva, and former US soldier Paul Whelan had spent years in Russian captivity. Read more here.
05:50 Three Freed Americans Arrive in USThree Americans freed in a prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus, and several Western countries appear to have arrived in the US. The plane suspected of carrying journalist Evan Gershkovich, his colleague Alsu Kurmasheva, and former US soldier Paul Whelan landed at a US air force base early Friday morning (local time). The flight from Ankara reached Joint Base Andrews near Washington DC late Thursday night (local time) after over nine hours in the air, US media reported.
04:41 US Advisor: Prisoner Deal Has No Impact on Ukraine WarUS National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the large-scale prisoner exchange between Russia and several Western countries has no impact on the situation in Ukraine. He sees no connection between negotiations over detainees and possible diplomatic efforts to end the war in the Russia-attacked country. "In our view, these are running on separate tracks," Sullivan said in Washington when asked if successful negotiations could also promote talks about the war situation with the Ukrainians.
03:05 Russian-Appointed Governor: Drone Fragments Hit CrimeaThe Russian-appointed governor of the occupied Crimea, Mikhail Razvozhayev, said fragments of at least four drones hit areas of the port of Sevastopol early Friday morning. The drones were previously shot down by Russian air defense. Razvozhayev wrote on the Telegram platform that there were no casualties. "The shot-down targets were equipped with destructive metal elements, according to our information," the governor said.
01:45 YouTube Only Partially Working in RussiaComplaints are mounting in Russia that the video platform YouTube is only partially working. Several media outlets reported outages and referred to the service "Sboj.RF," which records reports of website disruptions. According to this, complaints were mainly reported in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but also from other parts of the country. Russia had already blocked large social networks like X and Facebook, which can only be used via protected connections (VPN).
00:32 Scholz: Exchanged prisoners arrived safelyChancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed a majority of the German and Russian citizens freed in an exchange between Russia and the West at Cologne-Bonn Airport. "All have arrived safely," said the SPD politician shortly after midnight at the airport. He had spoken extensively with the arrivals. "It was very moving," said Scholz. "Many didn't expect this to happen now." Many had feared for their health and even their lives. Two planes from Ankara landed late in the evening at Cologne-Bonn. On board were approximately a dozen of the 16 people released from Russia and Belarus.
23:59 Kremlin spokesman: Putin daily involved in Ukraine warKremlin chief Vladimir Putin spends many hours daily in contact with his military on the progress of the war in Ukraine. "This is work that is not seen every day on camera, work that is not read about in newspapers," said his spokesman Dmitry Peskov in a radio interview cited by the state agency TASS. Putin deals with the progress of the special operation, as the attack on Ukraine is called in Kremlin terminology, every day of the week. He also frequently telephones front commanders and simple soldiers at the front. This is "a constant practice."
23:38 Freed German prisoners land in CologneAfter the prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus, and Western countries, two planes with freed prisoners landed at Cologne/Bonn Airport, according to dpa information. Chancellor Olaf Scholz had announced that he would meet the former prisoners late in the evening. The SPD politician had also landed at Cologne/Bonn Airport. Among the freed are five Germans.
22:44 Federal Minister of Justice on prisoner deal: "In doubt, for freedom"Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann described the release of convicted Russian murderer Vadim Krasikov from German custody as a bitter concession in the context of the prisoner exchange. This was done to enable 16 people a new life in freedom, explained the FDP politician. "They faced a similar fate as Alexei Navalny did: death in inhuman arbitrariness." With this, Buschmann referred to the Russian opposition politician who died in Russian custody in mid-February. As Minister of Justice, the principle of "in doubt, for freedom" was decisive for him. Read more about this here.
22:13 Putin personally receives freed RussiansVladimir Putin personally received Russians freed from the West at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport. The Kremlin chief Putin embraced at least one of the men on the tarmac where the presidential guard was standing, as shown in TV footage released by the Kremlin. Also present were Russian intelligence chiefs Alexander Bortnikov of the FSB and Sergei Naryshkin, as well as Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. "You are home, you are in the homeland," Putin greeted the freed and announced that they would be nominated for state awards. Tears of joy were visible on the faces of the freed. Among those released was the so-called Tiergarten murderer Vadim K., who was released early from German custody as part of the deal.
21:59 Kamala Harris Calls Nawalny's WidowFollowing the historic prisoner exchange between the West and Russia, US Vice President Kamala Harris called the widow of Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny. Harris spoke with Julia Navalnaya about the prisoner exchange and expressed her support, according to Navalnaya's spokesperson, Kira Yarmish. Harris highlighted Navalnaya's and her late husband's efforts for a "democratic Russia," Yarmish explained. Navalnaya described the release of Russian opposition figures as "great joy." Every release of a political prisoner is "a huge victory and a reason to celebrate," she said. No one should be "Putin's hostage" and suffer torture and death in "Putin's prisons."
21:40 Report: Ukraine Already Deploying F-16sThe Ukrainian air force has reportedly already conducted its first combat missions with F-16 fighter jets, according to the "Telegraph." However, it's believed these were only for air defense purposes. A representative of the air force did not deny this. Ukraine has remained silent about the arrival of F-16 fighter jets, a common practice to avoid helping the enemy.
Catch up on all previous developments here.
The Commission has expressed concern over the prisoner exchange between Russia and the West, fearing it could incentivize further arbitrary arrests.The Commission is urging its members to warn citizens in Russia and Belarus of the potential risks and reinforce protections for those residing outside their home countries.
