(26 Dec 2014) Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russia separatists exchanged nearly 370 prisoners on Friday, according to Russian state media.
Ukraine handed over 222 prisoners and the rebels released 145 people, Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported, which would make it the biggest one-time prisoners swap since the pro-Russia insurgency flared up in eastern Ukraine in April.
The Interfax news agency quoted Svyatoslav Tsegolko, a spokesman for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, saying that 146 Ukrainian prisoners were released on Friday and another four will be freed on Saturday.
The figures corresponded to an earlier Ukrainian official statement, which said that 150 Ukrainian prisoners were to be released.
Hundreds of others were released during previous months.
On the site where the swap was conducted, prisoners were called up in groups of 10 with officials from both sides verifying their identities.
The prisoner swap is a major step toward easing hostilities in eastern Ukraine.
Fighting in the area between government forces, volunteer battalions and pro-Russia separatists has claimed more than 4,700 lives since last spring.
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