Ukraine stated Wednesday that it had secured the discharge of a US citizen in addition to 64 Ukrainian members of the navy in its newest prisoner swap with Russian forces.

“Sixty-four troopers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who fought in Donetsk and Lugansk — specifically participated within the defence of the town of Bakhmut — are going dwelling,” the Ukraine presidency’s chief of employees Andriy Yermak stated on social media.

“It was additionally attainable to free a US citizen who helped our individuals — Suedi Murekezi.”

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Russia’s state-run TASS information company has reported that Murekezi was arrested within the japanese Donetsk area of Ukraine in June and charged with attending anti-Russian protests and inciting “ethnic hatred”.

Citing his lawyer, TASS stated Murekezi was born in Rwanda and moved to the USA along with his household in 1994. The lawyer stated Murekezi labored in a nightclub in Kherson metropolis and denied his shopper was a combatant.

Russian forces captured Kherson metropolis quickly after they invaded Ukraine in February, however Ukrainian troops retook it this autumn. It has been subjected to frequent bouts of Russian shelling since.

Ukrainian officers say the epicentre of combating since Kherson’s recapture has been the Donetsk area the place Russian forces have for months been making an attempt to seize Bakhmut.