Russia and Ukraine carry out an unexpected prisoner swap on Wednesday involving almost 300 people, including 10 foreigners and the commanders who led a prolonged Ukrainian defence of Mariupol. The timing and magnitude of the swap came as a surprise, given Russian President Vladimir Putin had announced a partial troop mobilisation earlier in the day in an apparent escalation of the conflict that began in February. The foreigners released included two Britons and a Moroccan who had been sentenced to death in June after being captured fighting for Ukraine. Also freed were three other Britons, two Americans, a Croatian, and a Swedish national.Read Long Article
