Ukraine swapped 9 Russian soldiers to free detained mayor: Senior official

Ukraine handed over nine captured Russian soldiers to ensure the release of the mayor of the occupied Ukrainian city of Melitopol, a senior official said late Wednesday.

"Ivan Fedorov was released from Russian captivity...For him, Russia received nine captured soldiers who were born in 2002 and 2003. These are actually children," Darya Zarivnaya, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s press aide, said in a televised speech.

The head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, said Wednesday that Fedorov, who was kidnapped by the Russian army on March 11, has been released.