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Russia and Ukraine Agree on Prisoner Swap Russia and Ukraine Agree on Prisoner Swap
(35 minutes later)
MOSCOW — Russia and Ukraine agreed on Wednesday on a high-profile prisoner swap that could help ease negotiations over a settlement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.MOSCOW — Russia and Ukraine agreed on Wednesday on a high-profile prisoner swap that could help ease negotiations over a settlement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
The Ukrainian news media reported that a Ukrainian helicopter pilot, Lt. Nadiya V. Savchenko, had been released from jail and was on a jet headed for the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. She was to be swapped for two Russians captured in eastern Ukraine — who the Ukrainians say are military intelligence agents — and flown from there to Kiev in Ukraine’s presidential plane.The Ukrainian news media reported that a Ukrainian helicopter pilot, Lt. Nadiya V. Savchenko, had been released from jail and was on a jet headed for the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. She was to be swapped for two Russians captured in eastern Ukraine — who the Ukrainians say are military intelligence agents — and flown from there to Kiev in Ukraine’s presidential plane.
The trade touches on pivotal questions of the war. Over the course of the two-year conflict in Ukraine, the bloodiest in Europe since the Balkan fighting a decade ago, Russia has denied sending soldiers or weapons across the border. Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine in unmarked uniforms were said to have gone there on their vacations. The trade touches on pivotal questions of the conflict. Over the course of the two-year conflict in Ukraine, the bloodiest in Europe since the Balkan fighting a decade ago, Russia has denied sending soldiers or weapons across the border. Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine in unmarked uniforms were said to have gone there on their vacations.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has refused to acknowledge any ties to the two men, Capt. Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Sgt. Aleksandr Aleksandrov. The Ukrainian authorities placed them in a glass cage during a trial in Kiev, as living examples of “the little green men,” or soldiers deployed without insignia on their uniforms, seen by the thousands in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. A Ukrainian court in April sentenced each of the men to 14 years in prison on terrorism-related charges. The Russian Ministry of Defense has refused to acknowledge any ties to the two men, Capt. Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Sgt. Aleksandr Aleksandrov. The Ukrainian authorities placed them in a glass cage during a trial in Kiev, as living examples of “the little green men,” or soldiers deployed without insignia on their uniforms, seen by the thousands in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. A Ukrainian court in April sentenced both of the men to 14 years in prison on terrorism-related charges.
Lieutenant Savchenko, who had been a minor celebrity even before the war as Ukraine’s first female combat pilot, had deployed as an infantry soldier with a volunteer unit in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine last year when she was captured by rebel fighters. The Russian authorities say she then escaped from her captors and slipped into Russia posing as a refugee.Lieutenant Savchenko, who had been a minor celebrity even before the war as Ukraine’s first female combat pilot, had deployed as an infantry soldier with a volunteer unit in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine last year when she was captured by rebel fighters. The Russian authorities say she then escaped from her captors and slipped into Russia posing as a refugee.
A Russian court convicted her of serving as an artillery spotter and directing fire at a rebel checkpoint where a Russian television journalist was killed. She was sentenced to 22 years in prison for murder. Ms. Savchenko vigorously denied the charges and, at one point, went on a hunger strike to protest the trial, which she dismissed as a “farce.” A Russian court convicted her of serving as an artillery spotter and directing fire at a rebel checkpoint where a Russian television journalist was killed. She was sentenced to 22 years in prison for murder. Lieutenant Savchenko vigorously denied the charges and, at one point, went on a hunger strike to protest the trial, which she dismissed as a “farce.”
During her incarceration in Russia, Ms. Savchenko was elected to the Ukrainian Parliament. During her incarceration in Russia, Lieutenant Savchenko was elected to the Ukrainian Parliament.
Lieutenant Savchenko had once served in a Ukrainian military unit aiding the United States effort in Iraq. Given that American tie, the Russian government had floated the idea of a trade of the convicted Russian arms smuggler, Viktor Bout, who was held at a federal maximum security prison, for Ms. Savchenko. The United States ambassador to Ukraine rejected that proposal. Lieutenant Savchenko had once served in a Ukrainian military unit aiding the United States effort in Iraq. Given that American tie, the Russian government had floated the idea of a trade of the convicted Russian arms smuggler, Viktor Bout, held at a federal maximum security prison, for Lieutenant Savchenko. The United States ambassador to Ukraine rejected that proposal.
Lieutenant Savchenko’s lawyer, Mark Feygin, reached by phone, declined to comment.Lieutenant Savchenko’s lawyer, Mark Feygin, reached by phone, declined to comment.