Don't fall back into our hands, Russia tells freed Ukrainian PoWs

Don’t fall back into our hands, Russia’s Wagner group tells freed Ukrainian PoWs following ‘great Easter exchange’ between the two Orthodox countries

• Some 130 troops freed in ‘great Easter exchange’ between Ukraine and Russia 
• Comes as Putin was accused of more war crimes amid traditional Easter service 

Trudging along a war-torn road, with some holding up hobbling comrades, more than 100 Ukrainian prisoners of war were released by Russia yesterday.

Some 130 troops were freed in a ‘great Easter exchange’ between the two Orthodox countries as the Russian paramilitary Wagner group warned them: ‘I hope you don’t fall back into our hands.’

It came as Vladimir Putin looked forlorn as he held a candle for his country’s traditional Easter service, hours before he was accused of yet more war crimes.

Yevgeny Prigozhin – who founded the pro-Putin militia accused of atrocities and torture around the world – posted a video of them returning to Ukraine, with many seen limping down the muddy road.

‘Prepare all of them, feed and water them, check the wounded,’ Prigozhin was seen saying.

Vladimir Putin looked forlorn as he held a candle for his country’s traditional Easter service, hours before he was accused of yet more war crimes

Some 130 troops were freed in a ‘great Easter exchange’ between the two Orthodox countries as the Russian paramilitary Wagner group warned them: ‘I hope you don’t fall back into our hands.’

But another armed Wagner soldier was filmed giving the more ominous warning before they were ordered into a truck.

Andriy Yermak, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, said 130 Ukrainian prisoners of war had been released and returned home in a ‘great Easter exchange’. It was not clear how many Russians were sent back.

Meanwhile beleaguered Russian President Putin appeared exhausted during the midnight service at Moscow’s largest cathedral, Christ the Saviour.

Both he and Russia’s spiritual leader, Patriarch Kirill, had arrived surrounded by dozens of security operatives – and worshippers underwent security checks.

Traffic was restricted in central Moscow for hours amid paranoia following the assassination of pro-Kremlin propagandist Vladlen Tatarsky earlier this month. Putin admitted that the second Orthodox Easter since his illegal invasion of Ukraine came at a time of ‘serious challenges’. ‘The wonderful, beloved Easter holiday gives believers hope, inspires good thoughts and deeds, and serves to affirm high moral ideals and values in society,’ he said.

Incredibly, Putin spoke of how the Russian Orthodox Church –which has parroted Kremlin lies in favour of the war – is ‘actively involved in the affairs of mercy and charity’. Kirill also referred to Ukraine as ‘our Russian historical land’ and described the conflict as ‘an internal feud’.

Trudging along a war-torn road, with some holding up hobbling comrades, more than 100 Ukrainian prisoners of war were released by Russia

READ MORE: Putin celebrates Orthodox Easter after leaked US intelligence documents revealed rumours that his top general is planning to ‘throw’ the war while despot undergoes chemotherapy for cancer

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends an Orthodox Easter service in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Russia

Within hours of their service, Russia was accused of bombing an Orthodox church in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine.

The building was destroyed with a large scorched-black hole where it once stood.

Anton Gerashchenko, a Ukrainian official, uploaded a photograph of the damage and wrote: ‘On Easter Sunday, terrorist Russia attacked a church in Zaporizhzhia region. Thankfully, it was empty, and no one was hurt.’

Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko also questioned how the Russians could label his country as ‘Nazis and Satanists’ given their mounting atrocities. There were further claims that Russia attacked Snihurivka, in Mykolaiv region, killing two teenagers.

And in his Easter address, Mr Zelensky described the holiday as marking ‘the victory of good, the victory of truth, the victory of life’. He said: ‘Belief in victory unites all of us always, and especially today. 

‘At Easter, which from time immemorial has been a family holiday for Ukrainians, a day of warmth, hope and great unity. We are one big family – Ukrainians.’

Meanwhile there were yet more signs of infighting in the Kremlin as a UK intelligence report said General Colonel Mikhail Teplinsky has returned to a ‘major role’ in their invasion. 

The Airborne commander is popular with the rank and file but was dismissed from the theatre in January. 

His return suggests Russia’s stalling bids to capture the eastern town of Bakhmut has increased tensions between factions in Moscow.

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