The Russian Federal Security Service said today that eight of its citizens, including children, who were detained and imprisoned in a number of NATO countries “were returned to their homeland as a result of an exchange that took place at the airport in Ankara.” Turkey previously said 10 prisoners, including two children, had been transferred to Russia.

“Their return was made possible thanks to the systematic and task-oriented work of representatives of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other competent government agencies, as well as foreign partners,” the Russian government said. 

“The Russian citizens were exchanged for a group of individuals who acted in the interests of foreign states to the detriment of the security of the Russian Federation,” the statement said.

Four U.S. residents who were wrongly imprisoned in Russia were released and on their way home Thursday.

Vice President Kamala Harris played “a critical role in this diplomacy at a number of key moments” leading to the prisoner exchange, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said today.

“She met with the chancellor of Germany in Munich to help pave the way,” Jean-Pierre said.

“She also met with the prime minister of Slovenia to help bring them into the negotiations,” she added. “They were partners in this and then you’ll see her tonight join the president to welcome back those Americans who were unjustly imprisoned in Russia.”

Wall Street Journal associate editor Paul Beckett said today on MSNBC that there had been brief communication with Gershkovich’s family “and they’re just on the moon” over his release.

Beckett said that in the Journal newsroom today, there were “tears of relief, smiles of joy, huge gratitude.”

“We’re incredibly excited and exhausted at the same time, and that’s how we’re feeling, so you know, can only imagine how Evan and his amazing family are doing as they wait to be reunited in a few hours,” he said.

A senior administration official stated today that the Biden administration has been working to negotiate Marc Fogel's release since as early as the negotiations for the release of Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner.

The senior official said it was the same case in today’s deal.

“We absolutely wanted Mark to be included. But it just wasn’t going to happen. You do the best you can and you get what you can,” the official said.

The official said that after years of trying, in this case they were able to secure the release of former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, but not Fogel. 

“What that tells us is we have got to keep redoubling our efforts, and we are,” the official said. “I can assure you that there are ongoing conversations and dialogue about Marc and about trying to get him released.”

“We understand that today, it will be a tough day for the Fogel family,” the official said. “We just want to make sure that they understand we have not forgotten Mark. And we’re going to continue to work for his release.”

The family of Marc Fogel, an American serving 14 years in a Russian prison who was not released today, said that “for the second time in three years since Marc Fogel’s detention in Russia, we are completely heartbroken and outraged that Marc has been left behind while the U.S. government brought other Americans home.” 

Fogel had been teaching in Russia and was sentenced to 14 years for having a small amount of medical cannabis that had been prescribed to him in the U.S., but was illegal in Russia.

“Today, Marc is missing from the historic prisoner exchange orchestrated by the Biden Administration,” the family said in a statement through its attorney Sasha Phillips.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said today that “after years of brutal and wrongful detention in Russia at the hands of Putin’s regime, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza are finally on their way home.” 

“Today is a joyous day for their families who have waited a long time to see their loved ones,” he said. 

President Biden posted a photo on X of the Americans heading back to the U.S.

"After enduring unimaginable suffering and uncertainty, the Americans detained in Russia are safe, free, and have begun their journeys back into the arms of their families," Biden wrote in the post.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to pardon more than a dozen of the prisoners, including the three Americans and one U.S. resident, who were freed in a multicountry swap, the Kremlin said.

The move was done with "the aim of returning Russian citizens detained and imprisoned in foreign countries," according to the Kremlin. It also said it was "grateful to the leadership of all countries that provided assistance in preparing the exchange."

The Turkish government said today that “the most extensive prisoner exchange operation of recent times took place in Ankara” and involved a total of 26 people from prisons in seven countries — the U.S., Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia and Belarus.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that seven aircraft, two from the U.S., and one each from Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Russia, had transported prisoners to Turkey as part of the exchange. 

Ten prisoners, including two children, were later transferred to Russia, 13 to Germany, and three to the United States, the Turkish government said.

The statement said Turkey “will continue to make every contribution to ensure international peace and stability.”