The Ukrainian news media reported that a Ukrainian helicopter pilot, Lt. Nadiya V. Savchenko, was released from jail and was flown to the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. Lieutenant Savchenko had once served in a Ukrainian military unit aiding the United States effort in Iraq. VideoMOSCOW — Russia and Ukraine swapped high-profile prisoners on Wednesday, a move that could help ease negotiations over a settlement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine in unmarked uniforms were said to have gone there on their vacations. Given that American tie, the Russian government had floated the idea of a trade of the convicted Russian arms smuggler, Viktor Bout, held at a federal maximum security prison, for Lieutenant Savchenko.

Source: New York Times May 25, 2016 05:32 UTC