Poroshenko pardons Russian citizen for release of separatist-held Ukrainian journalist

"The militants have postponed the exchange or deliberately thwarted it many times. To have Maria freed, the president pardoned a Russian citizen, who was passed to the occupied territory today," Tseholko said on Facebook. It was reported earlier that Ukrainian journalist Maria Varfolomeyeva had been freed from captivity in the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), where she had been held for more than a year. Poroshenko said he had personally called Varfolomeyeva and talked to her. "I have just personally called Maria Varfolomeyeva. A lot had to be done to free her. I thank Iryna Gerashchenko and all those who were involved in this," Poroshenko said on his social networking account. He also vowed to do all he could to have hostages freed as soon as possible. It was reported earlier that three captives were freed in an exchange between the LPR and Kyiv. Interfax reported that the captives were swapped on a bridge near the community of Shchastya in the presence of OSCE monitors, International Committee of the Red Cross workers, and journalists.