Ukraine's ombudswoman, Lyudmyla Denisova, has confirmed that a prisoner exchange between Kiev and the self-proclaimed people's republics of Lugansk (LPR) and Donetsk (DPR) started on Sunday in the Donbass region, APA reports citing Sputnik.
"The long-awaited process of mutual [prisoner] release has begun at the Mayorsk [checkpoint] in the Donetsk Region. Our guys are returning to their homeland", Denisova wrote on her Telegram channel.
The start of the exchange was also confirmed by the Ukrainian president's office.
"The process of releasing detainees has begun in the Donetsk Region, at the Mayorsk checkpoint", the press service said in a Facebook post.
This is first exchange of prisoners between the sides since 2017. It is taking place near the DPR-controlled city of Horlivka.
"We are ready to return 55 people to the Ukrainian side, they are ready to return 87, but the final figures will be based on the verification results. Twenty-two people from the Donetsk list refused to be released. According to our information, two people agreed to move to the DPR, three others agreed for the exchange, but want to stay on Ukrainian territory. Therefore, I’ll be able to say the exact numbers when we go through the list", Morozova told reporters.
According to a DPR representative, no incidents have been recorded in the ongoing prisoner exchange process so far.
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