Putin welcomes former Hamas hostages to Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has met with an Israeli-Russian family that had been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, RT reports.

He spoke with Aleksandr Troufanov, his mother Elena, and fiancée Sapir Cohen in the Kremlin on Wednesday, according to RT.

Troufanov’s mother, grandmother, and fiancée were released during a weeklong ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in November 2023. Troufanov was freed during the truce in February 2025, after spending 498 days in captivity.

“I hope that everyone who is currently in the same situation you were in will be freed,” Putin said. “I’m very happy to see you here and want to wish you all the best,” he added, according to RT.

According to the Russian president, the Troufanovs were released because “Russia maintains stable, long-standing relations with the Palestinian people, as well as their representatives and organizations.”

According to AP, at least 59 hostages remain in Gaza, although Israeli officials believe that less than half of them are alive.

Putin thanked Hamas leaders for the ‘humanitarian act’ of releasing the hostages.