Yesterday there was a significant event for Ukraine: ten civilians who were in Russian captivity returned home. Their exchange took place within the framework of a complex but important diplomatic operation, which reflected the importance of international cooperation and humanitarian efforts.
Priests and political figures. Who were the 10 civilians who returned to Ukraine exchanged for?
So far, it has not been reported on what conditions they were released and in exchange for whom.
But, according to the head of the Office of the President Yermak, this happened with the mediation of the Vatican, among those released are two priests of the UGCC.
It should be noted that a week ago, UOC Metropolitan Ionafan, who was sentenced in Ukraine to five years, was extradited to Russia. The Russian mass media reported that this also took place with the participation of Pope Francis.
It is not officially reported whether yesterday's return of Ukrainian prisoners is related to this. But, as we can see, the mediation of the Vatican has been confirmed on both sides.
Sources in church circles confirm that the Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly offered UOC priests against whom criminal cases have been initiated to "go on exchange" to Russia.
"But the position of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on this issue is clearly negative - not to agree to an exchange. First, the priests of the Church are Ukrainian patriots and they do not want to leave for Russia. Secondly, such an exchange will create a precedent and open Pandora's box - priests of the UOC will simply begin to be en masse arrested and thrown into prisons in order to replenish the exchange fund. I do not know whether Ionathan agreed to the exchange. But there is a scheme for which consent is not required. It is about depriving a person of Ukrainian citizenship, after which he will be expelled from Ukraine," the source said.
But Ionafan may not be the only one whom Ukraine handed over to Russia.
According to our data, in mid-June, Ukraine sent six civilians who were under arrest on "political" charges to Russia for exchange. It was not officially announced.
