Had Failed, Russia Announces Prisoner Exchange With Ukraine: Nine Moscow Soldiers For Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov

Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov. (Twitter/@ua_parliament)

JAKARTA - One month ahead of the Russian invasion of Ukraine which began on February 24, the Red Bear Country authorities announced the first prisoner exchange between the two countries.

Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war first, nine Russian servicemen were released, according to the Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia Tatyana Moskalkova.

"The first exchange took place. We returned our nine sons," he said in an interview with RT, confirming that Russian servicemen were exchanged for the mayor of Melitopol.

Previously, the media reported the exchange of nine Russian servicemen for the mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, last week, citing the Office of the President of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, citing Ukrinform, Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov said Ukraine had tried to swap it twice.

"It was the second attempt of the exchange. The first attempt was unsuccessful, it happened on Monday, I was pushed for more than seven hours in the car, after which I was told that the exchange would not take place," he said in an interview with Nastoyashchee Vremya TV channel.

"I was returned back to the cell. It's a pretty tough ordeal when you're pushed in a car for seven hours with a hood over your head, not knowing where not trusting the person holding you. I was in a cell for a day and a half, ' continued Fedorov.

The second attempt at the exchange, he said, was 'also quite difficult' although it was ultimately successful. Fedorov said he was not beaten during detention, but was under psychological stress.

"When I wanted to get something from me, sometimes five, six, seven armed soldiers surrounded me. They didn't touch me with their hands but believe me, seven people with guns in their hands standing nearby were enough to conclusively prove their position," he explained.

"Or someone was being tortured in the cell next door, I heard screams that were so psychologically stressful that it was really worth the pressure, the torture. So, for six days it was quite difficult," he explained.

Fedorov clarified that he had been detained at the pre-trial detention center in Melitopol. He believes he managed to survive only thanks to public outcry and great attention to the situation around him.

It is known that the Russian military kidnapped Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov on March 11. About 10 raiders broke into the mayor's office, put a black headgear over his head, and carried him away in an unknown direction.

On March 16, Fedorov was exchanged for nine captured Russian servicemen. President Volodymyr Zelensky later awarded Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov the Order For Courage of the 3rd Degree.