Russia and Ukraine exchange imprisoned priests
Through the mediation of the Vatican, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to exchange detained clergy. In the context of the deal, a leader of the Crimean Tatars was also released and received by President Zelenskyy immediately.
Russia and Ukraine have made an extremely rare move by exchanging detained priests. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that two Ukrainian Greek-Catholic priests, who were being held in Russian-controlled areas of the country, have returned to Ukrainian-controlled territory. The release of the priests, who were arrested in November 2022, was made possible through the intervention of the Vatican.
Russia, in turn, reported that a high-ranking Ukrainian Orthodox cleric, Metropolitan Ionafan, as well as two other priests, had been handed over to Moscow. Metropolitan Ionafan was sentenced to five years in prison in Ukraine in August of the previous year for justifying the Russian invasion of the country.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is close to the Moscow Patriarchate, officially distanced itself from Moscow after the beginning of the Russian offensive war. Ukrainian authorities continue to accuse it of pro-Russian positions and influence, despite this. On the Russian side, the orthodox church justifies the offensive in the neighboring country and supports the Kremlin.
Crimean Tatar Leader Released
According to Zelenskyy, a total of ten Ukrainian civilians were released from Russian captivity on Friday. Among them were the two priests and Nariman Dzheljal, a leader of the Crimean Tatars. Zelenskyy met with Dzheljal for a brief conversation. "Ten civilians, in addition, 90 soldiers have been released from captivity this week," Zelenskyy said in a video statement.
A total of 3310 people have returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity. "And we must find and bring back all our people to the Ukraine - every single one of them who is in captivity or deported - adults and children, military personnel and civilians."
On Tuesday, Russia and Ukraine exchanged 90 prisoners each. Representatives of both sides also held direct talks. Both sides reportedly spoke about "possible options for the return of currently detained civilians" in detention centers, Tatiana Moskalkova, the Russian Human Rights Ombudsman, announced subsequently. The priests who were later exchanged were apparently among these civilians.
Following the prisoner exchange, Volodymyr Selenskyy expressed gratitude to the Vatican for their role in facilitating the release of Ukrainian priests and civilians, including Crimean Tatar leader Nariman Dzheljal. Despite ongoing wars and conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, both nations continue to engage in peace negotiations and prisoner exchanges.
