Putin would rather release the Ukrainian Azov fighters in exchange for allies, and is considered to value personal interests more than national interests.

(Associated Press)

[Compile Sun Yuqing/Comprehensive Report] The "Washington Post" disclosed on the 1st that in the exchange of prisoners of war between Ukraine and Russia at the end of September, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) strongly opposed President Putin's release of Azov battalion soldiers in exchange for Putin His close friends and other Russian troops were worried that they would cause resentment in Russian society, but Putin insisted on it, a move that highlights Putin's greater emphasis on protecting oligarchs with interests.

The Washington Post quoted Ukrainian and U.S. officials familiar with the matter as saying that Russia released 215 people, including senior military commanders and 10 foreigners, including fighters from the Azov Battalion, which it regarded as "neo-Nazis"; Ukraine released 55 people. Russian soldiers, including former Ukrainian MP and Putin ally Viktor Medvedchuk.

The asymmetry in the number of prisoners exchanged between the two sides and the status of prisoners of war has made FSB officials deeply concerned and fully opposed.

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In fact, after the prison change, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed it as a "victory for our country", while the Kremlin received rare criticism from domestic militants. Igor Girkin, commander of the pro-Russian separatist forces in Ukraine ), then angrily, "It is worse than a crime to release the prisoners of war in the Azov camp, stupid!"

According to reports, Russia has been accusing the Suying fighters of being terrorists. After arresting them at the Malibo steel plant in May, they promised to face justice, but now they are released, much to the consternation of Russian patriots.

Russian patriotic blogger Dmitry Seleznev bluntly stated, "It is somewhat ironic that the Azov battalion commander must now stay in Turkey for vacation as a condition of release until the end of the special military operation."

Senior State Department officials continued to point out that Putin did not hesitate to exchange for Mayvichuk, who was accused of treason by Ukraine, underscoring Putin's priority of protecting oligarchs who were in the Kremlin's interests. What do you care about?"