Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has returned from his visit to Turkey, bringing back five former commanders of Ukraine’s garrison in Mariupol. This move has sparked immediate denouncement from Russia, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accusing Turkey of violating the terms of a prisoner exchange and failing to inform Moscow.
The commanders, who are considered heroes in Ukraine, led the defense of Mariupol during Russia’s invasion. The city suffered heavy casualties, with thousands of civilians killed during a three-month siege by Russian forces. The Ukrainian defenders held out in tunnels and bunkers under the Azovstal steel plant until they were ordered to surrender by Kyiv in May last year.
Moscow had previously released some of the commanders in September as part of a prisoner swap brokered by Ankara. The terms of the exchange stipulated that the commanders were to remain in Turkey until the end of the conflict.
President Zelenskiy, who met with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Friday, announced the return of the commanders on the Telegram messaging app. He expressed his joy in bringing the heroes back to their families.
Russia’s Peskov expressed surprise at the release, stating that they were not informed about it. He claimed that according to the agreements, the commanders were supposed to remain in Turkey until the end of the conflict. Peskov suggested that the release may have been a result of pressure from Turkey’s NATO allies ahead of the upcoming summit of the military alliance, where Ukraine hopes to receive positive signals about its future membership.
Zelenskiy did not provide an explanation for the commanders’ return, and Turkey’s Directorate of Communications has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Zelenskiy shared a one-minute video on social media, showing himself and other officials shaking hands and hugging the commanders before they boarded a Czech airplane together. The news has been met with celebration among many Ukrainians, with Major Maksym Zhorin, who is currently fighting in eastern Ukraine, expressing his joy and congratulating his fellow soldiers on the Telegram messaging app.
The release of the commanders has further strained the already tense relations between Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey. The situation is likely to be a topic of discussion at the upcoming NATO summit, where Ukraine’s future membership will be a key issue.
How does the return of the commanders affect the prisoner exchange agreement between Ukraine and Russia?
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Zelenskiy’s decision to bring back the commanders has raised tensions between Ukraine and Russia even further. The Kremlin has condemned the move as a breach of the prisoner exchange agreement, accusing Turkey of going against the agreed terms and not informing Russia beforehand.
The commanders, who are highly respected in Ukraine for their bravery and leadership during the defense of Mariupol, played a crucial role in resisting the Russian invasion. The city, located in eastern Ukraine, endured significant devastation and loss of civilian lives during the three-month siege by Russian forces.
Russia’s immediate denouncement of Zelenskiy’s action highlights the delicate nature of the ongoing conflict between the two nations. The prisoner exchange agreement, which was reached earlier this year, aimed to deescalate tensions and facilitate the release of detained individuals on both sides.
However, Zelenskiy’s move to bring back the commanders has added another layer of complexity to the already strained relationship between Ukraine and Russia. The Ukrainian president’s decision is seen as a demonstration of support for the commanders and a reaffirmation of Ukraine’s commitment to its military personnel.
The repercussions of this event are yet to unfold fully, and it remains to be seen how Russia will respond. The actions of both Russia and Ukraine in the coming days and weeks will likely determine the trajectory of the ongoing conflict and the prospects for peace in the region.
