Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners and open a new relation

The exchange, in the purest style of the Cold War, included 35 people from each side.

The international media reported an exchange of “political” prisoners between Russia and Ukraine, without clarifying that both nations are not in a state of war.

The exchange, in the purest style of the Cold War, included 35 people from each side, who were
transported by air at the same time on special flights since there is no air communication
regulate between both countries.

The list of people released by the Russian side includes 24 sailors and Ukrainian officers,
members of the Navy, who were captured in the Russian maritime space. To which
they are joined by journalist Román Suschenko, sentenced to 12 years in prison for espionage in favor of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, arrested in 2015, and sentenced to 15 years of jail for two attacks, as well as ultra-right leaders Mykola Karpynk and Stanislav Klykh.

As regards those released by the Ukrainian side, it is known that the list includes Kiril
Vishinski, director of the Russian Nóvisti agency in Ukraine who was accused of "high treason" by the Kiev authorities. Volodymyr Tsemakh, head of air defense of a region of the Republic of
Donetsk, Yevgeny Mefedov, a civil activist arrested during the massacre of pro protesters
Russians in Odessa by groups of Ukrainian extreme right groups, and two soldiers who
defected from the Ukrainian Army in Crimea.

The news seems the beginning of the implementation of a new stage of relations between both
countries, promised by the new Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, elected last April.