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Ukraine, Separatists Exchange Prisoners


Ukrainian military officials and pro-Russian separatists have carried out a prisoner exchange in eastern Ukraine.

Antigovernment militia who control parts of Ukraine's Donetsk region swapped 30 captive Ukrainian soldiers on September 28 for 60 separatist fighters held by Ukrainian forces.

The exchange took place at a village near the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk, with the fighters and soldiers being brought to the location by bus.

The prisoner exchange was observed by members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The initially agreed exchange format was 30 for 30 -- no reason was given for Ukraine's handing over 60 rebel fighters.

The prisoner swap was part of a truce agreement signed in Minsk on September 5 between the Ukrainian government and self-declared separatist leaders.

The exchange was the fourth in which nearly 450 prisoners have been returned.

Based on reporting by Interfax and ITAR-TASS

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