Captured Ukraine sailors’ families beg Queen to pressure Putin for Christmas release
FAMILIES of the captured Ukrainian sailors being held in a Moscow prison have begged the Queen to ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to release them.
Russian vessel rams into Ukrainian Navy boat
Russia says the 24 men are criminals but Ukraine insists they are innocent prisoners of war. They were captured when Russian forces stormed and seized three Ukrainian vessels in waters near occupied Crimea last month. The international community condemned the act but the sailors are due to stand trial in January.
Their families have now appealed directly to Her Majesty to call President Putin telling him to set the sailors free in time for Christmas.
In a jointly penned letter, written in English, the families asked the Queen to use her “humanitarian influence” to help return their loved ones.
The letter read: “Madam, we ask your help and support in seeking the release of our sons, husbands and fathers from Russian captivity,
“We simply all sincerely hope that your reputation and humanitarian influence will he heard and our loved ones will return safe and sound.
“We ask you dear madam to use your indisputable authority for the quick return home of our relatives illegal captured by the Russian Federation.”
The letter was given to the British Ambassador to Ukraine, Judith Gough, as she hosted Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson on a visit to the Black Sea city of Odessa yesterday.
The Queen is set to receive the letter after the Telegraph reported it will be passed to Buckingham Palace once Mrs Gough has delivered it to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
During the visit, Mr Williamson put pressure on Russia to release the sailors.
He said: “The seizure of these vessels wasn’t in the Sea of Azov, it was in the Black Sea.
The Defence Secretary added “This is international waters.”
He had earlier met the families who wrote the letter and given Christmas presents of teddy bears to children of the imprisoned men.
Mr Williamson was in Ukraine to visit HMS Echo, a Royal Navy ship sent to the region in a show of support for Britain’s ally against Russian aggression.
The survey ship is the first NATO vessel to respond to Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko’s call for help from allies.
Mr Poroshenko had asked allies to send their ships to the Sea of Azov to “provide security” as Russia continues to dominate the region in defiance of the international community.
Viktor Soroka, the father of 27-year-old naval counter intelligence officer Vasily Soroka, told the Telegraph he did not know how badly injured his son was and had been given limited information about the state of his son by Moscow.
He said: “It is terrible knowing that my son was wounded but not knowing the nature of the injury.
“Russia keeps changing its story about his condition.
“I want to thank Her Majesty and the Royal Navy for sending the ship which is in Odessa right now.”