Yesterday, in a significant development for Ukraine, ten civilians held captive by Russia returned home. Their exchange took place in a complex but important diplomatic operation that reflected the importance of international cooperation and humanitarian efforts.
Priests and politicians. Who were the 10 civilians who returned to Ukraine exchanged for?
It has not yet been reported under what conditions they were released and in exchange for whom.
But, according to the head of the President's Office Yermak, this happened with the mediation of the Vatican, and among those released were two priests of the UGCC.
It should be noted that a week ago, Metropolitan Jonathan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, who was sentenced to five years in prison in Ukraine, was extradited to Russia. Russian media reported that this also happened 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, both sides have confirmed the mediation of the Vatican.
Sources in church circles confirm that the Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly offered UOC priests, against whom criminal cases have been opened, to “go on an exchange” to Russia.
"But the UOC's position on this matter is unequivocally negative - not to agree to an exchange. Firstly, the priests of the Church are Ukrainian patriots and they do not want to go to Russia. Secondly, such an exchange will create a precedent and open Pandora's box - UOC priests will simply start being grabbed en masse and thrown into prisons in order to replenish the exchange fund. I do not know whether Jonathan gave his consent to the exchange. But there is a scheme in which consent is not needed. It is about depriving a person of Ukrainian citizenship, after which he is expelled from Ukraine," the source says.
But Jonathan may not be the only one 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. This was not officially reported.
