In a rare and emotionally charged meeting at the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin received 29-year-old Alexander Trufanov, a Russian-Israeli man recently freed by Hamas after enduring 498 days in captivity in Gaza. The meeting, held on April 16, 2025, symbolized both a humanitarian milestone and a strategic diplomatic gesture by Moscow, which continues to position itself as a key mediator in Middle Eastern conflicts.
Trufanov, whose family emigrated from Russia to Israel in the late 1990s, was taken hostage during the brutal Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023. The attack left his father, Vitali Trupanov, dead, while his mother Yelena, grandmother, and partner were also taken captive but later released during a temporary ceasefire in November 2023. Trufanov himself was finally released on February 15, 2025, reportedly following direct Russian diplomatic pressure on the Hamas leadership.
During the televised meeting at the Kremlin, an emotional Trufanov expressed deep gratitude to the Russian president. “For me, when they are there, it’s as if half my heart is still in Gaza,” he said, referring to the remaining hostages still held by Hamas. “It will be very hard for me to return to my ordinary life while they are there.”
Addressing Putin directly, Trufanov urged the Kremlin to intensify its efforts to secure the release of the other captives. “Mr. Putin, I really ask you to continue what you did for me and others… so that they can also be free and happy like I am now,” he pleaded.
In response, President Putin assured Trufanov that Russia would maintain its diplomatic efforts. “We will be working on this, definitely,” he said. The president went on to underscore the significance of Moscow’s long-standing ties with the Palestinian leadership, noting that Trufanov’s release was the product of “stable, many-year relations with the Palestinian people.”
“I think it’s necessary to express gratitude to the political leadership of Hamas,” Putin said. “They responded to our request and made this humanitarian gesture.”
Trufanov’s case was elevated to the diplomatic level in early February, when Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov publicly called on Hamas to honor its promise to release Russian citizens being held in Gaza. Just days later, Trufanov was freed.
Russia’s involvement in the hostage negotiations is part of a broader effort by the Kremlin to bolster its international influence amid increasing global tensions, particularly with the West. While the United States and European Union classify Hamas as a terrorist organization, Russia maintains an open diplomatic channel with the group and has hosted its representatives in Moscow on several occasions.
This meeting also drew attention to other Russian-Israeli hostages still held by Hamas, including Maxim Herkin, 35, who was abducted during the October 7 music festival attack. Herkin was recently seen alive in a propaganda video released by Hamas in early April, further intensifying calls for international intervention.
The Russian-Israeli community has voiced mixed emotions regarding the Kremlin’s strategy. While many are relieved by Trufanov’s safe return, others urge a more aggressive stance against hostage-takers. Nonetheless, Putin’s administration continues to frame its engagement with Hamas as a pragmatic approach to conflict resolution and humanitarian advocacy.
Israel, on its part, has welcomed any initiative that results in the safe return of hostages, regardless of origin. The Israeli government has also been actively negotiating through intermediaries, including Egypt and Qatar, to secure additional prisoner releases.
As the war between Israel and Hamas grinds on, with thousands dead and hostilities flaring across Gaza and southern Israel, the plight of hostages remains a painful reminder of the human toll of the conflict. For Alexander Trufanov, the trauma may take time to heal, but his public appeal to save others left behind has struck a chord far beyond the Kremlin walls.