Kremlin Acknowledges Assassin, Sleeper Agents Among Returned Prisoners

One of the individuals released to Russia in a historic swap this week was a member of an elite security service, and two others were agents.

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes Vadim Krasikov, as Russian citizens released in a major prisoners swap with the West arrive at Moscow's Vnukovo airport on Aug. 1, 2024. Mikhail Voskresenskiy/AFP via Getty Images

The Kremlin is acknowledging for the first time that some of the prisoners released back to Russia this week are members of Russian security and intelligence services.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during a call on Aug. 2 that one of the prisoners is a member of an elite security service and that two others are sleeper agents.