Russia's surprise move with Ukrainian sailors captured in Kerch Strait

Russia could release Ukrainian sailors captured in the Kerch Strait last year later this month.

The prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, including Ukrainian sailors detained in the Kerch Strait incident last November, will take place before the end of August.

The list of detainees to be exchanged is still being reviewed, according to the announcement. In addition to the sailors, other Ukrainian citizens detained by Russia could be sent home. It is unclear whether Russia will consider transferring Oleg Sentsov, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for terrorism, to Ukraine.

In return, Ukraine could hand over former RIA Novosti-Ukraine editor-in-chief Kirill Vyshinsky to Russia. Mr. Vyshinsky was arrested last May on charges of treason.

It is known that the agreement on the prisoner exchange was only reached after the first phone call between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents, which took place on July 11.

Previously, on November 25, 2018, Russia seized three Ukrainian ships and 24 sailors in the Kerch Strait in the Black Sea for allegedly violating Russian territorial waters. The crew was then taken to Simferopol, Crimea, and the next day transferred to Moscow and has been detained ever since.