Kremlin Hosts Meeting Between Putin and Former Hostage Sasha Troufanov

In a poignant meeting at the Kremlin on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, a former Hamas hostage, along with his mother Elena and fiancée Sapir Cohen. The visit offered a personal glimpse into the harrowing ordeal faced by Russian-Israeli citizens abducted during the October 7 massacre near Gaza.

Troufanov, 28, had been living in Tel Aviv with Cohen before they traveled to Kibbutz Nir Oz located just a few kilometers from the Gaza border for a family visit. That visit turned into a nightmare when Hamas terrorists stormed the kibbutz, killing over 1,200 people and kidnapping dozens. Among the victims was Troufanov’s father, Vitaly, who was murdered in the assault.

Sasha was taken hostage and endured an unthinkable 498 days in captivity in Gaza. Meanwhile, his mother Elena, grandmother Irina Tati (73), and fiancée Sapir Cohen were released after 54 days during the sixth round of a hostage exchange deal in November 2023. Their release, widely seen as a diplomatic gesture to the Kremlin due to their Russian citizenship, left Sasha behind.

At the Kremlin, Putin expressed shock and deep sympathy for the family’s suffering. “We will continue working to secure the release of the hostages still held by Hamas,” he assured them, reiterating Russia’s commitment to aiding in humanitarian efforts tied to the ongoing conflict.

The meeting marks a rare acknowledgment by Moscow of the personal impact the October 7 attacks had on Russian citizens. It also highlights the complex, deeply human toll of Hamas’s brutality an organization recognized as a terrorist group by Russia, the United States, the European Union, Canada, and Israel.

Troufanov’s return, while a miracle for his family, is a sobering reminder that many others remain in Hamas captivity Israelis, dual nationals, and civilians who were targeted simply for being who they are.

As the global community continues to demand the release of the remaining hostages, this high-profile meeting underscores that their plight remains in the international spotlight.

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