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Suedi Murekezi, a U.S. Air Force seasoned whose household says helium was captured by pro-Russian separatists successful Ukraine earlier this year, has been freed successful a captive swap, a elder Ukrainian authoritative announced Wednesday.
Murekezi, who has lived successful Ukraine since 2018, was taken by pro-Russian forces successful the confederate metropolis of Kherson successful aboriginal June, according to his member Sele Murekezi, who added that helium had been falsely accused of taking portion successful pro-Ukrainian protests.
Andriy Yermak, the caput of Ukraine’s statesmanlike office, wrote connected Twitter Wednesday that Murekezi was released alongside 64 Ukrainian prisoners of warfare who had been warring successful the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. He described Murekezi arsenic “a U.S. national who helped our people.” The bodies of 4 different Ukrainians were besides repatriated, Yermak added.
Sele Murekezi said that erstwhile helium spoke to his member successful July, helium mentioned that helium was being held successful the separatist Donetsk People’s Republic, alongside 2 different American nationals.
Born successful Rwanda, Suedi Murekezi came to the United States arsenic a teen and went connected to spent 8 years successful the Air Force, according to his brother. He aboriginal moved to Ukraine and was based successful Kherson — the archetypal large metropolis to autumn to Russian forces pursuing the Feb. 24 invasion, and which was precocious recaptured by Ukrainian forces.
In September, respective overseas nationals, including 2 U.S. veterans, 5 Britons and a Moroccan national, were among the 300 prisoners released by Russia successful a captive swap. Three of the overseas prisoners had antecedently been sentenced to death.
A full of 1,456 prisoners person been released from Russian captivity oregon Russia-controlled territory since the struggle began, Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s coordination office for the attraction of prisoners of war, told The Post connected Wednesday.
As the gait of captive exchanges betwixt Russia and Ukraine has accelerated successful caller weeks, reports person emerged of the maltreatment detainees faced portion successful Russian captivity.
One captive of warfare told The Post he was beaten truthful severely that his ribs were breached and his kidneys were severely injured.
The quality of the latest captive swap comes days aft WNBA prima Brittney Griner was freed by Moscow successful speech for Russian arms trader Viktor Bout. The United States is besides trying to unafraid the merchandise of different U.S. national, Paul Whelan, who has been held successful Russia for 4 years and has been sentenced to 16 years successful situation connected espionage charges that Washington has denounced arsenic bogus.
Marisa Iati and Annabelle Timsit contributed to this report.
Understanding the Russia-Ukraine conflict
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