(ANSA) - ROME, SEPTEMBER 22 - Ukraine has announced the release of 215 Russian prisoners of war including 205 'heroes of Azovstal', the defenders of the Mariupol steel plant which is the last Ukrainian stronghold in the area.
In exchange, Kiev released the pro-Russian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk and 55 Russian soldiers.
This was revealed by the head of the office of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Andriy Yermak, underlining that the exchange "is the result of personal agreements between President Zelensky and President (Turkish, ed) Erdogan".
"President Volodymyr Zelensky has set a clear goal: to bring our heroes back home. The result: our heroes are free," Yermak wrote on Facebook.
Among the freed people there are also 10 foreigners who fought alongside the Ukrainians, some of whom threatened with death.
Released thanks to the efforts of Saudi prince Mohammed bin Salman, they are now in Riyadh.
(HANDLE).