Kiev, 25 March Ukraine and Russia have exchanged prisoners for the first time since Moscow declared war on Kiev on February 24, according to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk.

Xinhua news agency quoted Vereshchuk as stating in a Facebook post that ten Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russian forces were released in exchange for ten Russian servicemen captured by Ukrainian forces.
In addition, Ukraine sent Russia 11 civilian Russian sailors recovered from a wrecked ship near Odessa in return for 19 Ukrainian civilian sailors, she said.

“Under the terms of the swap, the rescue ship will also be returned to Ukraine and sent to a Turkish port.”