DONETSK, Ukraine — In the dead of night, Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed rebel forces on Friday exchanged 67 prisoners who had been captured during fighting in eastern Ukraine, part of a cease-fire deal that has struggled to succeed.
The transfer took place in the dark outside of the main rebel stronghold of Donetsk under the watch of international observers.
Thirty-six Ukrainian servicemen were released after negotiations, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said. Ukrainian forces handed over 31 pro-Russian rebels detained over the five-month conflict, some of them Russian citizens.
The cease-fire took effect a week ago but has been routinely violated. Shortly after the …read more
Source: The Epoch Times
