Another stage of the prisoner swap has started between Donbas separatist republics and Ukraine.
The authorities announced the return of 19 citizens who became captives in the Ukrainian territories controlled by Russian-backed militants. The ‘all-for-all’ swap formula is a part of a political agreement reached during the Normandy format talks, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Reznikov stressed.
“With regard to the quarantine restrictions that are still in force in the state, released Ukrainians will go for compulsory observation when are liberated,” news agency Interfax quotes the presidential press service.
The exchange will be held at the Mayorske checkpoint, the TV station Hromadske said on Wednesday, citing sources in the OSCE and Ukraine’s Interior Ministry.
According to the office of Volodymyr Zelensky, it is the third time for his presidential term that Ukrainian nationals are being delivered from captivity in Donbas.
“The first stage took place in September last year, when 35 Ukrainians came home, and the second – in December, when another 35 returned,” the statement reads.
