Russian Foreign Ministry confirms intentions to release Trufanov and Harkin from captivity in Gaza

Russian Presidential Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov confirmed during a conversation with Israeli Ambassador Simona Halperin that Russia will continue to make efforts to release Russian citizen Trufanov and Donbass native Harkin, who are being held in the Gaza Strip, as soon as possible. The Russian Foreign Ministry said on January 29.

"The Russian side's focus on the continuation of vigorous efforts aimed at the speedy release of persons held in the enclave, including Russian citizen A. Trufanov, a native of Donbass M. Harkin and other hostages was confirmed," the diplomatic ministry said in a statement.

It is specified that the representatives of the states during the conversation touched upon the situation in the Middle East and emphasized the situation in the Gaza Strip. They also considered possible multifaceted cooperation between Russia and Israel in the future.

Earlier, January 25, it was reported that Bogdanov in a telephone conversation with Hamas deputy politburo chairman Musa Abu Marzouk noted the interest in the release of Russian Trufanov and a native of Donbass Harkin held in Gaza. It is specified that during the conversation they discussed the need to provide humanitarian aid to the population of the conflict zone.

The agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza became known on January 15. On the same day the representative of the Russian President for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov held telephone talks with the leadership of the Palestinian movement and noted the priority of the release of Russian citizens held captive. The ceasefire regime in the Gaza Strip began in the morning of January 19.

On November 15, 2024, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova recalled that more than 100 people now remain in captivity of the Palestinian movement and among them are Russians Alexander Trufanov and Maxim Kharkin. She emphasized that the capture and long detention of people who are not guilty of anything cannot be justified in any way.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas subjected the territory of Israel to a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.