KYIV – Moscow freed 35 Ukrainian political prisoners and hostages in an exchange involving the same number of detainees held by Kyiv because of their hostile activities on behalf of Russia.
The return to Ukraine on September 7 of the Ukrainian captives, including the internationally renowned filmmaker from Crimea, Oleh Sentsov, generated joy and hope, but also some controversy.
There were moving scenes at Kyiv’s Boryspil International Airport as the families and Ukraine’s president welcomed home the exhausted, relieved and still somewhat bewildered representatives of Ukraine’s current battle for its freedom. Many who were there, or were watching on TV, had tears in their eyes.