Ukraine and Russia-backed separatists have conducted a mass prisoner swap, marking the largest such deal since the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine broke out in 2014.
The captives – who include activists and journalists – were exchanged on Wednesday near the town of Horlivka, northeast of Donetsk.
Under the terms of the agreement, 74 Ukrainian soldiers were expected to be swapped for 306 pro-Russian separatists.
However, Ukraine handed over some 235 people – the others either chose to stay in Ukraine or had been released earlier, according to Ukrainian officials.
According to Al Jazeera, this is the first prisoner swap in eastern Ukraine since September 2016.
In Horlivka, dozens of family members eagerly awaited the return of their loved ones.
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