Hostage Sasha Troufanov, an Israeli-Russian citizen who was released from captivity on Shabbos, spoke with the Chief Rabbi of Russia HaRav Berel Lazar, on Motzei Shabbos.

Sasha, with his mother Lena sitting next to him, thanked HaRav Lazar for supporting his family during his captivity and his efforts to secure his release.

Russia has used its influence to press for Troufanov’s release several times. In June 2024, his mother Lena was invited to Moscow for a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov along with the parents of Alex Lobanov and Andrey Kozlov after a request was made by The Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Hours after the meeting, Islamic Jihad released a “sign of life” video of Troufanov.

Kozlov was rescued from Gaza in Operation Arnon in June 2024. Lobanov, H’yd, was one of six hostages brutally murdered in a tunnel in Rafah in August 2024.

Russian ambassador to Israel, Anatoly Viktorov visited Sasha on Motzei Shabbos at the hospital. The ambassador gave him a new Russian passport and said that Russia acted for his release on the direct instructions of President Putin.

(YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)