Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels trade 367 prisoners

Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russian rebels have exchanged nearly 370 prisoners, a major step towards easing hostilities.

Ukraine handed over 222 prisoners and the rebels released 145 people yesterday, according to Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency – the biggest one-time prisoner swap since the pro-Russian insurgency flared up in eastern Ukraine in April.

Hundreds of others were released during previous months.

Tensions were high as buses carrying prisoners arrived at a site north of the main rebel stronghold of Donetsk. At some point during the exchange, separatist rights ombudsman Darya Morozova was quoted by Tass news agency as saying that the exchange would be pushed back until today.

Russia’s state television showed Ukrainian war prisoners boarding buses in Donetsk before being driven to a location north of the city where the exchange took place.

On the site where the swap was conducted, prisoners were called up by groups of 10 with officials from both sides verifying their identities.

The exchange had been tentatively planned for earlier this week and the failure to conduct it pushed back another round of Ukraine peace talks in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, which was set for yesterday but was adjourned indefinitely. – (PA)