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According to China News Network, the United States and Russia carried out a large-scale prisoner exchange in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, on August 1 local time.

According to reports, Russia released 16 people requested by the United States, including former US Marine Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, while the United States also coordinated with Germany, Poland and other countries to release eight detained Russian citizens.

This is the largest prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. US President Biden called the prisoner exchange "a diplomatic feat" and said that "deals like this require difficult decisions." The Russian Federal Security Service Public Relations Center said that eight Russian citizens who were detained and imprisoned in many NATO countries have returned to Russia.

According to the Global Times, citing TASS, Putin welcomed Russians who had been detained in Western countries at Moscow's Vnukovo-2 Airport on August 1 local time.

According to reports, the released Russians were also welcomed with a red carpet, and about 40 members of the Presidential Guard Honor Guard attended the welcoming ceremony. When these Russians began to get off the plane, Putin shook hands or hugged them one by one to express his welcome. Afterwards, Putin addressed these Russians at the airport.

"First of all, I would like to congratulate you on your return to the motherland," Putin said to the released personnel at the airport. "I would like to thank you for your loyalty to your oath, duty and the motherland. The motherland will remember you all the time." Putin also said that the relevant personnel will be awarded national medals.

He was accompanied by Russian Defense Minister Belousov and Federal Security Service Director Bortnikov.