Russian President Vladimir Putin met with freed hostage Sasha Troufanov, whose release from Hamas captivity was facilitated, according to Putin, through Russia’s relationship with the terror group.

Sasha Troufanov, along with his mother Elena and partner Sapir Cohen—who were all taken hostage during the brutal October 7th attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz—were received at the Kremlin this week. The attack killed Sasha’s father, Vitaly Hy”d.

In a televised segment aired on Russian state media, Putin openly acknowledged Russia’s longstanding ties with Hamas.

“The fact that you managed to go free is the result of the fact that Russia has stable, long-term relations with the Palestinian people, with its representatives, and with a wide variety of organizations,” he said, referring to Hamas not with condemnation but with respect.

Even more jarring to many was his expression of “gratitude to the leadership of the political wing of Hamas” for what he called a “humanitarian act.”

The meeting—which included Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar and Federation of Jewish Communities President Alexander Boroda—was broadcast with Kremlin footage and official commentary.

Troufanov emotionally recounted his ordeal, describing 498 days of captivity in Gaza. Putin reportedly sighed heavily at the number.

Troufanov, an Israeli-Russian dual citizen, was freed in February—his release occurring soon after senior Russian diplomats met with Hamas representatives in Moscow and pressed for the release of Troufanov and fellow hostage Maxim Herkin.

Troufanov’s mother and grandmother had been released months earlier during a short-lived ceasefire. His partner, Sapir Cohen, was reportedly freed with him. The meeting was presented as a gesture of Russia’s humanitarian role—but the subtext is deeply concerning.

While most Western countries cut off all ties with Hamas—designated by both the United States and the European Union as a terrorist organization—Russia has chosen a different path, preserving diplomatic access that it now touts as leverage in sensitive hostage negotiations.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)