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10 Prisoners Captured In Ukraine Released To Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Says

By RFE/RL September 21, 2022

Ten prisoners of war captured in Ukraine have been transferred to Saudi Arabia as part of an exchange between Russia and Ukraine, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said.

Among the prisoners released are American, British, Swedish, Croatian, and Moroccan nationals, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on September 21.

"The relevant Saudi authorities received and transferred them from Russia to the kingdom and are facilitating procedures for their respective countries," the statement said.

U.S. citizens Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh were among the group, a family representative told Reuters. The two military veterans were captured in June while fighting in eastern Ukraine in support of Ukrainian troops resisting Russia's invasion.

The prisoners were released following efforts by Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman "in continuation of (his) commitment to the humanitarian initiatives towards the Russian-Ukrainian crisis," the ministry said.

The statement did not specify when the prisoners of war would be transferred to their home countries.

The war in Ukraine has caused tension between the United States and Saudi Arabia, a major oil producer and long-time U.S. ally.

Salman agreed to a slight increase in daily oil production capacity after meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in July, helping to ease oil prices in the United States, which shot up after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February.

But Saudi Arabia has also coordinated with OPEC+, a group of oil producers including Russia. The oil cartel earlier this month agreed to cut crude production as it sought to lift prices.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-prisoners- released-drueke-huynh/32045093.html

Copyright (c) 2022. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.