New revelations about the historic prisoner swap between US and Russia have surfaced.

The Kremlin confirmed that some of the freed Russians were intelligence agents, and the children of a Russian spy couple were unaware of their true identity until they&nbsp;reached home.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that a detained couple released in Slovenia —Artem and Anna Dultsev— were undercover intelligence officers, known as 'illegals'.

Posing as Argentine residents, they were operating from Ljubljana, which was their base since 2017 to relay Moscow's orders to other sleeper agents. They&nbsp;were arrested on espionage charges in 2022.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-and-harris-to-welcome-freed-americans-arriving-from-russia-746431">Freed Americans return home following historic prisoner swap; Biden, Harris greet them at airport</a>

Their two children joined them as they flew to Moscow's Vnukovo Airport from Ankara, Turkey, where the mass exchange occurred. The children don't speak Russian, and only learned their parents were Russian during the flight, Peskov said.

The children also didn't know who President Vladimir Putin was, as they asked who is it greeting them," Peskov added.

"That's how illegals work, and that's the kind of sacrifices they make because of their dedication to their work," Peskov further said.

It may be mentioned here, a total of 24 prisoners were involved in Thursday's (Aug 1) historic swap —and a total of 26 people, including the spy couple's kids, changed planes on the tarmac in Ankara.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-criticises-bidens-decision-on-whelan-and-gershkovich-exchange-746425" target="_blank">Trump criticises Biden's decision on Gershkovich and Whelan exchange</a>

While the US journalists Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva and former Marine Paul Whelan were greeted by their families and President Joe Biden, VP Kamala Harris in Maryland on Thursday night.

Putin embraced each of the Russian returnees at the airport and promised them state awards.

The large-scale exchange occurs less than two years after WNBA star Brittney Griner was traded for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as the "Merchant of Death," at an airport in Abu Dhabi.

Griner was arrested in 2022 at a Moscow airport when vape canisters containing cannabis oil were found in her bags. She was sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-hails-release-of-wsj-reporter-evan-gershkovich-other-prisoners-from-russia-brutal-ordeal-is-over-746379" target="_blank">Biden hails release of Gershkovich, Whelan and Kurmasheva from Russia: ‘Brutal ordeal is over’</a>

While Bout, arrested in 2008, was serving a 25-year prison sentence in US for conspiring to sell weapons to individuals intending to kill Americans.

(With inputs from agencies)

New revelations about the historic prisoner swap between US and Russia have surfaced. The Kremlin confirmed that some of the freed Russians were intelligence agents, and the children of a Russian spy couple were unaware of their true identity until they reached home.

New revelations about the historic prisoner swap between US and Russia have surfaced. The Kremlin confirmed that some of the freed Russians were intelligence agents, and the children of a Russian spy couple were unaware of their true identity until they reached home. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that a detained couple released in Slovenia —Artem and Anna Dultsev— were undercover intelligence officers, known as 'illegals'. Posing as Argentine residents, they were operating from Ljubljana, which was their base since 2017 to relay Moscow's orders to other sleeper agents. They were arrested on espionage charges in 2022. Also read: Freed Americans return home following historic prisoner swap; Biden, Harris greet them at airport Their two children joined them as they flew to Moscow's Vnukovo Airport from Ankara, Turkey, where the mass exchange occurred. The children don't speak Russian, and only learned their parents were Russian during the flight, Peskov said. The children also didn't know who President Vladimir Putin was, as they asked who is it greeting them," Peskov added. "That's how illegals work, and that's the kind of sacrifices they make because of their dedication to their work," Peskov further said. It may be mentioned here, a total of 24 prisoners were involved in Thursday's (Aug 1) historic swap —and a total of 26 people, including the spy couple's kids, changed planes on the tarmac in Ankara. Also read: Trump criticises Biden's decision on Gershkovich and Whelan exchange While the US journalists Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva and former Marine Paul Whelan were greeted by their families and President Joe Biden, VP Kamala Harris in Maryland on Thursday night. Putin embraced each of the Russian returnees at the airport and promised them state awards. The large-scale exchange occurs less than two years after WNBA star Brittney Griner was traded for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as the "Merchant of Death," at an airport in Abu Dhabi. Griner was arrested in 2022 at a Moscow airport when vape canisters containing cannabis oil were found in her bags. She was sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges. Also read: Biden hails release of Gershkovich, Whelan and Kurmasheva from Russia: ‘Brutal ordeal is over’ While Bout, arrested in 2008, was serving a 25-year prison sentence in US for conspiring to sell weapons to individuals intending to kill Americans. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian spies' children discovered their nationality during flight to Moscow: Kremlin

Complex negotiations spanning over months finally led to a 24-person prisoner swap, one of the largest since the end of the Cold War — among the U.S., Russia, Germany and three other Western countries, on Thursday.

The Biden administration on Thursday announced it had secured the release of three American prisoners in Russia: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Marine veteran Paul Whelan and Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva. 
 
Gershkovich, Whelan and&nbsp;Kurmasheva, imprisoned by the Kremlin, were exchanged for Russians, including a convicted murderer, held in the US and Europe. In all, eight Russians were released in the swap deal, among which three were&nbsp;being held in U.S. prisons: Vadim Konoshchenok, Vladislav Klyushin and Roman Seleznyov.

Two Russians held in Slovenia, one in Poland and another in Norway are also headed home. They all were known to have suspected ties to Russian intelligence.

The prisoner exchange&nbsp;is said to have taken place on Thursday on a tarmac in Ankara, Turkey.

During a White House briefing with the families of the US citizens incarcerated in Russia, President Joe Biden shared that they had spoken with the recently freed prisoners via phone, that they have left Russia and are heading to the US. He expressed his gratitude to the allies involved in the challenging negotiations.

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"Now, their brutal ordeal is over," Biden announced. “Moments ago, the families and I were able to speak to them on the telephone from the Oval Office. They’re out of Russia,” Biden said.

“The deal that made this possible was a feat of diplomacy and friendship,” he said, adding, “Today is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world.”

“Our alliances make our people safer,” he said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/timeline-prisoner-swaps-between-russia-and-the-us-in-recent-decades-746357">Timeline: Prisoner swaps between Russia and the US in recent decades</a>

In his speech, Joe Biden stopped to lead everyone in singing "Happy Birthday" to 13-year-old Miriam, the daughter of journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who was freed as part of the exchange.

"Now, she gets to celebrate with her mom. That’s what this is all about, families able to be together again, but they should have been all along," said Biden.&nbsp;

"Thank you again to everyone who did their part. In just a few hours, welcome home, our fellow Americans. We’re looking forward to that, God willing, Thank you. And it’s a good day," Biden added.

The deal is a significant for the Biden administration, which has secured the release of more than 60 hostages or wrongful detainees from around the world over the past three years.

Whelan, who is the longest-held American detainee in Russia, was arrested in December 2018 when he traveled to the country to attend a friend's wedding. He was also charged with espionage and sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020.&nbsp;

Gershkovich, 32, was accused of espionage and kept behind bars for more than a year before a three-day trial after which a judge ordered him sent to a penal colony for 16 years. 
 
Kurmasheva, a journalist based in Prague&nbsp;who holds dual Russian and American citizenship, was detained&nbsp;in June 2023, after visiting her mother in May. Russian authorities charged her with disseminating false information about Russia's military.

(With inputs from agencies)

Complex negotiations spanning over months finally led to a 24-person prisoner swap, one of the largest since the end of the Cold War — among the U.S., Russia, Germany and three other Western countries, on Thursday.

Complex negotiations spanning over months finally led to a 24-person prisoner swap, one of the largest since the end of the Cold War — among the U.S., Russia, Germany and three other Western countries, on Thursday. The Biden administration on Thursday announced it had secured the release of three American prisoners in Russia: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Marine veteran Paul Whelan and Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva. Gershkovich, Whelan and Kurmasheva, imprisoned by the Kremlin, were exchanged for Russians, including a convicted murderer, held in the US and Europe. In all, eight Russians were released in the swap deal, among which three were being held in U.S. prisons: Vadim Konoshchenok, Vladislav Klyushin and Roman Seleznyov. Two Russians held in Slovenia, one in Poland and another in Norway are also headed home. They all were known to have suspected ties to Russian intelligence. The prisoner exchange is said to have taken place on Thursday on a tarmac in Ankara, Turkey. During a White House briefing with the families of the US citizens incarcerated in Russia, President Joe Biden shared that they had spoken with the recently freed prisoners via phone, that they have left Russia and are heading to the US. He expressed his gratitude to the allies involved in the challenging negotiations. Watch | Haniyeh Assassination: How did the attack on Hamas leader Haniyeh take place? × "Now, their brutal ordeal is over," Biden announced. “Moments ago, the families and I were able to speak to them on the telephone from the Oval Office. They’re out of Russia,” Biden said. “The deal that made this possible was a feat of diplomacy and friendship,” he said, adding, “Today is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world.” “Our alliances make our people safer,” he said. Also read: Timeline: Prisoner swaps between Russia and the US in recent decades In his speech, Joe Biden stopped to lead everyone in singing "Happy Birthday" to 13-year-old Miriam, the daughter of journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who was freed as part of the exchange. "Now, she gets to celebrate with her mom. That’s what this is all about, families able to be together again, but they should have been all along," said Biden. "Thank you again to everyone who did their part. In just a few hours, welcome home, our fellow Americans. We’re looking forward to that, God willing, Thank you. And it’s a good day," Biden added. The deal is a significant for the Biden administration, which has secured the release of more than 60 hostages or wrongful detainees from around the world over the past three years. Whelan, who is the longest-held American detainee in Russia, was arrested in December 2018 when he traveled to the country to attend a friend's wedding. He was also charged with espionage and sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020. Gershkovich, 32, was accused of espionage and kept behind bars for more than a year before a three-day trial after which a judge ordered him sent to a penal colony for 16 years. Kurmasheva, a journalist based in Prague who holds dual Russian and American citizenship, was detained in June 2023, after visiting her mother in May. Russian authorities charged her with disseminating false information about Russia's military. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden hails release of Gershkovich, Whelan and Kurmasheva from Russia: ‘Brutal ordeal is over’

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Russian spies' children discovered their nationality during flight to Moscow: Kremlin

Biden hails release of Gershkovich, Whelan and Kurmasheva from Russia: ‘Brutal ordeal is over’