American hostages Whelan, Gershkovich land on American soil, after Russian prisoner swap

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, ex-Marine Paul Whelan and radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva landed late Thursday night at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

They were greeted by family members and President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris before being flown to Brooke Army Medical Center, in San Antonio, Texas, to be medically evaluated.

Whelan, who was imprisoned by Russia for over five years, and Gershkovich were part of a historic prisoner swap, in which more than a dozen prisoners were released by Russia in exchange for eight Russians held by the U.S., Germany, Norway, Poland, and Slovenia. 

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan lauded the exchange as the biggest prisoner swap since the Cold War and praised U.S. allies for helping achieve the deal, according to CNN.

"The deal that secured the freedom of Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir was a feat of diplomacy," Biden said in a statement. "All told, we’ve negotiated the release of 16 people from Russia – some of whom were unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering. Today, their agony is over."

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who is also American, and Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza, were also freed in the exchange.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.