Russia and Ukraine have exchanged border guards who spent months in captivity after crossing into foreign territory.
Ukrainian border guards Bohdan Martson and Ihor Dzyubak went missing in October 2017, later reported to be detained at the border for illegally crossing into Russia. Russia’s Vladimir Kuznetsov and Askar Kulub were detained four months earlier in south Ukraine after they reportedly got “lost” and crossed the border.
The exchange took place at a neutral zone on the Russian-Ukrainian border, the FSB confirmed on Friday.
Official Moscow and Kiev both welcomed the border guard swap.
The Kremlin has been accused of fomenting the conflict between pro-Russian separatists and Kiev in eastern Ukraine following the 2014 toppling of a Moscow-friendly president in the country and Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels swapped captives late in 2017 in the first exchange since mid-2016.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.