Russia has released Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan in a major prisoner swap. Both Gershkovich and Whelan have been imprisoned on espionage charges. Whelan has been in Russian custody since January 2019, and Gershkovich since March 2023. Whelan is serving a 20-year sentence, and Gershkovich was recently sentenced to 16 years; see Russia Sentences Wall Street Journal Reporter to 16 Years Amid a Heightened Fear of Treason and Espionage and Will Paul Whelan Ever See Freedom?

The deal involves at least 24 prisoners and perhaps as many as 30 prisoners. If those numbers are true, this may be the largest prisoner swap since the return of US PWs from Vietnam.

The Russians are getting a GRU assassin, Vadim Krasikov, who was sentenced to life in prison in Germany for gunning down Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a Georgian-born Chechen dissident, in broad daylight in a Berlin park. Also possibly involved: "Four Russians detained in the US on charges including cyber crime, smuggling and money laundering were thought to possibly be part of the exchange - although their names have not yet been made public." 

Another part of the puzzle seems to be two deep-cover Russian agents arrested in Slovenia in December 2022 who were suddenly sentenced to 19 months in prison Wednesday and then immediately released on time served and expelled from the country.

This is a developing story. RedState will provide additional information as it becomes available.