5 Britons held by Russian forces in Ukraine released
Five Brits have been freed after being held by Russian-backed forces in Ukraine.
Saudi Arabia said it had brokered an exchange between Russia and Ukraine of 10 detainees, including five Britons.
Aiden Aslin, John Harding and Shaun Pinner, who were captured while fighting with Ukraine forces, were among those released.
Their release was part of one of the most significant prisoner swaps of the war so far, with 215 Ukrainian soldiers released – in exchange for 55 Russian soldiers and a pro-Kremlin Ukrainian politician Victor Medvechuck, who was facing charges of treason.
Photos show the three British detainees arriving off a plane in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and appearing to be accompanied by a group of Saudi officials.
In a statement, Saudi Arabia said Moroccan, US, Swedish and Croatian nationals had also been freed as “part of an exchange of POWs between Russia and Ukraine”.
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