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Ukraine and Russian-backed rebels on Wednesday began to exchange more than 300 prisoners in the war-torn east of the country, the largest such swap since the insurgency broke out in 2014. 

The swap between the Kiev army and rebels from the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics took place at a checkpoint close to the town of Gorlivka, 40km northeast of the rebels’ stronghold of Donetsk, a reporter said.

In the first exchange since September 2016, the Russian-backed eastern militia was handing over to Kiev some 70 prisoners, officials from both sides said. The Ukrainian side for its part was releasing some 300 rebels and their supporters.

A reporter at the scene saw a first group of around 15 people driven by bus to Ukraine-controlled territory.

The swap on the eve of the New Year and Orthodox Christmas holidays was agreed following negotiations involving Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s leader Petro Poroshenko.

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©  http://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/2125877/ukraine-and-pro-russia-rebels-
27.12.2017