MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics (DPR and LPR) in eastern Ukraine returned 140 soldiers to Kiev in prisoner swaps on Saturday, DPR ombudsman Daria Morozova said.
"140 Ukrainian troops were transferred," Morozova said, adding that Kiev returned 36 DPR and 16 LPR soldiers.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Saturday that 139 Ukrainian soldiers were already freed.
Earlier this week, a DPR representative told RIA Novosti that the next prisoner exchange was planned under the 37-for-37 formula but was being delayed by Kiev's actions.
Prisoner swaps are part of the deal on Ukrainian reconciliation hammered out by the Russian, German, French and Ukrainian leaders in Minsk earlier this month.
Since last autumn, Kiev and independence supporters have swapped hundreds of prisoners.
