Former Marine Paul Whelan describes how it felt to gain his freedom after years of imprisonment in Russia.

Whelan, a former Marine, returned to the United States early Friday along with journalists Evan Gershkovich and Ars Kurmasheva. The three arrived at Joint Base San Antonio Kelly Field in Texas after being released in a historic, multinational prisoner swap. according to To KSAT. The release, which includes 24 prisoners, is being noted as the largest release since the Cold War.

As he and Evan Gershkovich reintegrate in Texas, Paul Whelan reveals the moment his release from Russia felt “real.” https://t.co/7w9fPGrXWa pic.twitter.com/FiEemxvgiZ

— New York Post (@nypost) August 2, 2024

“It didn't seem real until I flew over the UK,” Whelan, who was jailed in Moscow in late December on espionage charges, told New York Post reporters. report“When we got over England and looked down, it all became real.”

He spent nearly six years in a remote Russian penal colony before being released, according to the New York Post. Upon their arrival, the group was escorted by U.S. special hostage envoy Roger Carstens and began the reintegration process, which included a comprehensive medical examination at a top-notch Department of Defense hospital in Houston. (Related article: Former US Marine in Russian prison urges Biden to “be a man” and release him)

After arriving in the U.S., Whelan expressed relief and a readiness to embrace normalcy, joking that he needed “medicinal” alcohol to celebrate. He was also presented with a flag pin by President Joe Biden, according to the New York Post. The returnees were welcomed with a photo opportunity at the base, and Whelan pointed to their image on the Hostage and Illegal Detainee flag. “The last three are us,” he said, pointing to the last three ticks on the flag.

According to the New York Post, Whelan, Gershkovich and Kurmasheva will undergo medical tests at Brooke Army Medical Center as part of their ongoing recovery and reintegration.