Largest Post-Cold War Prisoner Swap Completed

In a monumental prisoner exchange, Russia and the U.S. swapped a total of 24 detainees, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who were welcomed back to the U.S. by President Biden. Among those returned to Russia were deep-cover spies Artem Dultsev and Anna Dultseva, whose children learned of their Russian heritage only during the flight home. Vadim Krasikov, an FSB officer and convicted assassin, was notably part of the exchange, highlighting the lengths Russia went to secure his return. The negotiations, involving multiple countries, also freed political prisoners and journalists, but left out U.S. teacher Marc Fogel, causing his family significant distress. The exchange has been described as the largest since the Cold War, emphasizing the complex and often imbalanced nature of such diplomatic efforts.