Russia and the West agree largest prisoner swap since the Cold War

The Kremlin has released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former marine Paul Whelan and British-Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza from captivity. This is the biggest prisoner swap between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold War. The three men form part of a group of prisoners released this morning, reportedly numbering as many as 16. In return, the US and its allies will return as many as eight prisoners to Russia.

While it is unclear exactly when and where the exchange is taking place, a plane belonging to the elite flight squadron ‘Russia’ was tracked flying from Moscow to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad this morning. The plane was the same one used in the prisoner exchange between the US basketball player Britney Griner and convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in December 2022 and can carry up to 35 passengers. The plane’s trip was seen as the first confirmation that something major was underway.