The Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude to Western partners for assistance in the release of Trufanov

Russia is grateful to the Palestinian side and partners from Qatar and Egypt for their assistance in the release of Russian citizen Alexander Trufanov, who is being held in the Gaza Strip. This was announced by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on February 16.

"We would like to note that the task of recovering our compatriots from captivity has been and remains a priority for us," she said in her commentary on the diplomatic ministry's website.

Zakharova specified that the Russian side intends to continue to seek the return of Donbass native Maxim Kharkin from Gaza. In addition, she expressed hope that the leadership of the Palestinian Hamas movement would pay attention to the humanitarian requests of the Russian Federation.

Trufanov and two other hostages were handed over to the Red Cross on Saturday, February 15, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov specified that Russian diplomats made every effort for his release.