As per reports, a senior member of the Ukrainian Orthodox clergy, Metropolitan Ionafantwo, and two Ukrainian Greek Catholic priests taken prisoner in the Russian-occupied city of Berdyansk have been returned to Ukraine through Vatican mediation, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, as of Saturday (29 June).
• According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, these two priests were taken prisoner by Russia in November 2022. This release took place as part of a prisoner exchange involving civilians.
• Russia and Ukraine had already exchanged 90 prisoners of war from each side earlier this week, with the mediation of the United Arab Emirates.