U.S. Air Force veteran freed in Ukraine-Russia prisoner swap - Axios

Suedi Murekezi, a U.S. Air Force veteran, was freed from Russian-controlled territory successful a captive swap betwixt Ukraine and Russia, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Wednesday.

Why it matters: Murekezi's relatives told the Washington Post helium was arrested successful June by pro-Russian authorities successful the formerly occupied metropolis of Kherson aft being wrongly accused of participating successful pro-Ukrainian protests.

• Kirby, connected a league telephone with reporters Wednesday, confirmed Murekezi's merchandise and said: “We invited the news."

Details: Murekezi is from Minnesota but has lived successful Ukraine since 2018.

• He was freed on with 64 soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who fought successful Donetsk and Luhansk, according to Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's main of staff.
• Ukraine besides received 4 bodies of soldiers killed successful action, Yermak said.

What they're saying: In an interrogation with ABC News published Wednesday, Murekezi said helium spent weeks successful a basement aft helium was initially arrested, wherever helium said helium was beaten and tortured with electrical shocks.

• Murekezi said helium was past transferred to a situation successful Donetsk city, wherever helium spent 3 months earlier being released, though helium was without his U.S. passport and efficaciously trapped.

The large picture: Murekezi's merchandise comes little than a week aft WNBA prima Brittney Griner was freed successful a captive swap betwixt the U.S. and Russia for convicted Russian arms trader Viktor Bout.

• Murekezi had been 1 of astatine slightest 3 U.S. veterans arrested oregon captured by Russia oregon Russian-backed authorities during Moscow's penetration of Ukraine.
• Alexander John-Robert Drueke and Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, 2 different erstwhile work members, were captured portion warring alongside Ukrainians successful Kharkiv Oblast successful June but were freed done a captive speech successful September.
• At slightest two Americans person been killed portion warring successful Ukraine, though the nonstop fig is presently unknown.

Go deeper: Ex-Trump authoritative defends Biden administration's Griner swap with Russia