- Title: Plane carrying Savchenko left Rostov-on-Don airport
- Date: 25th May 2016
- Summary: ROSTOV-ON-DON, RUSSIA (MAY 25, 2016) (REUTERS) AIRPORT BUILDING RUSSIAN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS MINISTRY CARS DRIVING RUSSIAN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS MINISTRY OFFICERS STANDING OUTSIDE AIRPORT ENTRANCE VARIOUS OF CAR WITH DIPLOMATIC PLATE AIRPORT BUILDING CAR WITH DIPLOMATIC PLATE DRIVING AWAY
- Embargoed: 9th June 2016 13:36
- Keywords: Savchenko Russia Ukraine swap Rostov-on-Don airport
- Location: ROSTOV-ON-DON, RUSSIA
- City: ROSTOV-ON-DON, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0014JB3Z9J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Ukrainian servicewoman Nadiya Savchenko headed home on a plane from Russian captivity on Wednesday (May 25), part of an exchange for two Russians detained in Ukraine, two sources close to the swap told Reuters.
The plane left the Rostov-on-Don airport in the Southern Russia.
Handing over Savchenko, whose release has been demanded by Western governments and who has become a national hero in Ukraine, would ease tensions between Moscow and the West a few weeks before the European Union decides whether to extend sanctions against Russia.
A plane was en route from Russia to Ukraine carrying Savchenko home, according to one of the sources.
In parallel, the two Russians, Alexander Alexandrov and Yevgeny Yerofeyev, were in the process of being returned to Russian soil, the second source close to the swap said.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was to make a statement later on Wednesday, his office said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed the swap. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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