Zakharova stated that Kyiv has long been in contact with terrorist organizations

The Turkish newspaper Aydınlık reported on Kyiv's negotiations with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria. According to the publication, Ukraine persuaded the militants to release “radical Chechen and Georgian terrorists” from their prisons in order to involve them in operations against Russia. In exchange, HTS received 75 drones. Among the radicals requested by Kiev is the former “war minister” of ISIS, whose death was reported back in 2016. Ukraine has not commented on this information, but Russia has already promised to destroy the terrorists.

The Turkish newspaper Aydınlık reported on negotiations between the Ukrainian authorities and the international terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, whose fighters occupy Syrian Idlib.

According to the publication, on June 18, the Ukrainian delegation visited Idlib, where they met with HTS leaders, including one of the organization's commanders, Heisem Omeri. Kyiv allegedly tried to secure the release of “radical Chechen and Georgian terrorists” in order to involve them in operations against Russia.

Information about the meeting was also confirmed by the analytical portal Lekolin, which is presumably associated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK, recognized as a terrorist organization in Turkey, the United States and the European Union).

“The Ukrainian delegation at the meeting demanded the release of the well-known terrorist leader Omar al-Shishani, who is recorded as being held in the HTS prison, as well as some radical Chechen and Georgian terrorists. HTS was reportedly offered 75 unmanned aerial vehicles in exchange for the release of these gang members,” the publication said.

According to Lekolin, the deal took place: in August, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham agreed to Kyiv’s terms and released “some radical figures” in exchange for 75 drones. It is unknown whether al-Shishani was among those released.

Omar al-Shishani is a Georgian citizen Tarkhan Batirashvili, who participated in the civil war in Syria since 2013 and then joined the Islamic State. He was a member of the top leadership of ISIS and held several posts, including the organization's “military minister”. At the same time, the media ~repeatedly reported on his death~: for example, in 2016, the Iraqi army announced the discovery of the terrorist's body. ISIS then confirmed his death.

“The mention of Omar al-Shishani’s release shows that either al-Shishani is still alive or there was a mix-up in his name,” Aydınlık stressed.

According to the newspaper, it could be another terrorist, Muslim al-Shishani, who is “often confused” with the former “war minister” of ISIS. However, the newspaper’s sources reported that he is still in prison.

Aydınlık explained Kyiv’s attempt to involve radicals in military action by the shortage of military personnel in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“It is known that the Kiev administration, which is experiencing a serious shortage of soldiers in the fighting with Russia, is looking for new reinforcements for the front. In this context, it is not surprising that Kyiv, which first emptied its own prisons and then established close relations with the terrorist organization PKK/PDS, turned to HTS for the same purpose,” the article says.

“You don’t talk to terrorists”

Commenting on Aydınlık's report, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that Ukraine has been maintaining contacts with terrorists for a “long time.”

“Involvement in terrorist attacks against Russian citizens, exchange of information and technology, use of the “false flag” tactic. But the problem is even larger. The bank itself has turned into a new international terrorist group, behind which, according to established tradition, stand Washington and London,” she wrote on her Telegram channel.

State Duma deputy Andrei Krasov noted in a conversation with Lenta.ru that in the event of participation in military operations, members of terrorist organizations will not be subject to exchange.

“The conversation with terrorists will be short – we don't talk to them, we destroy them. They are not combatants. And if they fall into our hands, they will all be destroyed,” the parliamentarian said.

Krasov also expressed confidence that Kyiv will not be able to compensate for the shortage of troops and losses after the invasion of the Kursk region at the expense of militants.

The Ukrainian side has not yet commented on reports of negotiations with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.