The Russian president has promised to help broker the release of the remaining captives held by Hamas
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with former Hamas hostages from Israel in Moscow, April 16, 2024. © The Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has met with an Israeli-Russian family that had been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. He spoke with Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, his mother Elena, and fiancée Sapir Cohen in the Kremlin on Wednesday.
The Troufanovs immigrated to Israel from Russia in the 1990s. On October 7, 2023, Hamas abducted Alexander, Elena, and Sapir from the kibbutz Nir Oz. The Palestinian militants also abducted Troufanov’s grandmother, Irena Tati. His father, Vitaly Troufanov, was killed in the attack.
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.
Putin said that he would like to see the remaining Israeli hostages returned home. “I hope that everyone who is currently in the same situation you were in will be freed,” he said. “I’m very happy to see you here and want to wish you all the best,” he added.
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According to Putin, the Troufanovs were released because “Russia maintains stable, long-standing relations with the Palestinian people, as well as their representatives and organizations.”
Alexander Troufanov asked Putin to continue his efforts to broker the release of the Israelis still held in Gaza. “I know that you’ve done a lot so that they, too, can be free and happy – just as I am today, sitting alongside my family. That means a great deal to me,” he said. Putin replied, “We will, of course.”
According to AP, at least 59 hostages remain in Gaza, although Israeli officials believe that less than half of them are alive.
Israel continued its airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza last month, after the sides failed to agree on the implementation of the second phase of an internationally brokered ceasefire.