A U.S. Air Force veteran, whose family say he was captured by Russian separatists in Ukraine, has been released in a prisoner swap, a senior Kyiv official announced on Wednesday.
Suedi Murekezi was reportedly snatched in June.
The White House confirmed that an American citizen was part of a prisoner exchange but offered no further details.
Earlier Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential office, announced that Murekezi was released along with 64 Ukrainian soldiers, who had fought in the Donetsk and Luhansk areas.
He described Murekezi as a 'U.S. citizen who helped our people.'
U.S. citizen Suedi Murekezi holds a Ukrainian flag after a prisoners-of-war swap at an an unknown location, Ukraine, in this handout picture released December 14, 2022
His brother said Murekezi was arrested in Kherson, southern Ukraine, where he had been living for more than two years.
Sele Murekezi told The Guardian in July that he had spoken to his brother by telephone, and he had said he had been falsely accused of joining pro-Ukrainian protests.
'They are using him as a pawn for their own propaganda purposes,' he said.
Kherson was captured early in the war. Residents protested against the occupation but Russian troops helped the new local authority quell demonstrations
Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential office, announced that Murekezi was released along with 64 Ukrainian soldiers, who had fought in the Donetsk and Luhansk areas
Protesters took to the streets of Russia-occupied Kherson, which was captured by invading troops at the start of the war. The protests were stamped out by Russian troops
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