Kremlin Hails Return of FSB Operative in Historic Prisoner Swap with Germany

The Kremlin confirmed that Vadim Krasikov, involved in a major prisoner swap with Germany, was an FSB operative. President Putin personally welcomed the returnees, including a 'deep-cover' Russian family. The exchange highlighted Russia's commitment to retrieving intelligence agents, although unrelated to the Ukraine conflict.

In a historic East-West prisoner swap, the Kremlin confirmed on Friday that Vadim Krasikov, a hitman convicted by a German court for a Berlin assassination, is an FSB operative. Krasikov, who served in the FSB's Alpha Group, was notably greeted by President Vladimir Putin as he disembarked a plane in Moscow.

Krasikov's return underscores Moscow's prioritization of bringing back detained intelligence operatives. Among those returned was the Dultsev family, deep-cover agents posing as Argentinians in Slovenia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed that even the agents' children were unaware of their true nationality until their flight took off for Moscow.

The prisoner swap, negotiated by the FSB and the U.S. CIA, is seen by pro-Kremlin analysts as a strategic win. Putin's personal greeting at the airport after the returnees' arduous trials emphasized Russia's dedication to its operatives. However, Peskov clarified that this event is separate from ongoing diplomatic efforts regarding Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies.)