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Ukraine, eastern rebels swap prisoners in move to end war

A prisoner cheers before a prisoner exchange between Ukrainian and pro-Russian rebels' sides, not far from the Maiorske checkpoint, Donetsk area, Ukraine, 29 December 2019. According to media reports, the Ukrainian side will swap prisoners who were captured in Ukrainian-controlled territory for Ukrainian citizens, including prisoners of war (POW) that were held hostages in occupied Donbas at the Maiorske crossing checkpoint, on the contact line between the warring parties near the pro-Russian militant-occupied town of Horlivka in Donetsk region. The agreement, reached during the summit of the Normandy Four leaders in Paris on 09 December 2019, sets the exchange between Kyiv and Donbas to be carried out before the end of the year. EPA-EFE/YEVGEN HONCHARENKO

Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine began exchanging prisoners Sunday in a move aimed at ending their 5-year-long war.

The move was part of an agreement brokered earlier this month at a summit of the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France.

A rebel government official and the Ukrainian president’s office confirmed that the swap has started.

In total, 142 prisoners were expected to be exchanged at a checkpoint near Horlivka in eastern Ukraine — 55 released by the rebels and 87 by Ukraine.

The last major prisoner swap between separatist rebels and Ukrainian forces took place in December 2017, with 233 rebels exchanged for 73 Ukrainians.

Read more via AP

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