PHOTOS: Touching scenes as Americans return home from Russia in historic prisoner swap

A plane carrying reporter Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan arrives at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following their release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.  (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris walk to greet reporter Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following their release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.  (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris greet Evan Gershkovich, a prisoner freed by Russia, as he arrives on August 1, 2024, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.  (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Former prisoner held by Russia, US journalist Evan Gershkovich waves as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on August 1, 2024.  (ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images)

Alsu Kurmasheva is accompanied by her daughters Bibi and Miriam Butorin after disembarking from a plane at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., August 1, 2024.  (REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt)

President Joe Biden greets Paul Whelan, who was released from detention in Russia, upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., August 1, 2024.  (Nathan Howard/Reuters)

Evan Gershkovich greets his mother Ella Milman after he arrived back in the United States on August 1, 2024, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Former prisoner held by Russia US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva runs to her daughters Miriam Butorin and Bibi Butorinas as she arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on August 1, 2024. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images)

Vice President Kamala Harris greets reporter Evan Gershkovich at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following his release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.  (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Former prisoner held by Russia US journalist Evan Gershkovich is welcomed by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on August 1, 2024.  (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris watch as former prisoner held by Russia US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva embraces her family as she arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on August 1, 2024.  (ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images)

Reporter Evan Gershkovich hugs his mother Ella Milman at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following his release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. Looking on at right is Elizabeth Whelan, sister of released prisoner Paul Whelan.  (Alex Brandon/AP)

President Joe Biden embraces Paul Whelan, who was released from detention in Russia, upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., August 1, 2024.  (Nathan Howard/Reuters)

Evan Gershkovich gestures after disembarking from a plane at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., August 1, 2024.  (Kevin Mohatt/Reuters)

Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who was released from detention in Russia, is greeted by U.S. President Joe Biden, her daughters Bibi and Miriam Butorin and her husband Pavel Butorin, upon her arrival at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., August 1, 2024.  (Nathan Howard/Reuters)

Reporter Evan Gershkovich greets colleagues at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following his release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.  (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Evan Gershkovich followed by his mother Ella Milman, smiles as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on August 1, 2024.  (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)