A historic prisoner exchange occurred between Russia and NATO countries, including the USA and Germany, in Ankara, where Russia released 15 prisoners, among them Vadim Krasikov, a convicted assassin and member of the FSB. Krasikov was serving a life sentence in Germany for the 2019 murder of a former Chechen rebel, an act described by German authorities as carried out on orders from Moscow. The Kremlin acknowledged Krasikov's status as an intelligence officer, a rare admission of the involvement of Russian operatives in such cases. US President Biden praised the negotiations that led to the exchange, which included the return of three American citizens. German Chancellor Scholz admitted the decision to release Krasikov was difficult, citing obligations to care for German nationals. The exchange also involved the release of other undercover Russian agents, highlighting the intricate negotiations between Western and Russian authorities.