Ukraine handed over 15 prisoners to separatists
On the 29th of December, the Ukrainian authorities unilaterally returned 15 people who were subject to criminal persecution in Ukraine, to the representatives of self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic. The Security Service of Ukraine and the DPR confirmed the transfer of the 15 people, eight men and seven women.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), they were previously detained for their participation in illegally armed groups. The transfer took place between Horlivka and Mayorsk in the neutral zone. The Head of the SBU, Vasyl Hrytsak, previously reported the plan to transfer these people. Hrytsak specified that Ukraine is ready to exchange another 228 detained separatist supporters for 58 Ukrainians who are being held in captivity by separatists.
“We are ready to make concessions on this issue in order expedite the return of our prisoners to their families. The Security Service of Ukraine will do its best to make this exchange happen before the Christmas holidays,” Hrytsak assured, as quoted by Interfax-Ukraine.
On the 27th of December, the representatives of the DPR returned two women - Angelica Presnyakova and Olga Svorak, to Ukraine. The Head of Ukraine’s Officer Corps Prisoner Release Centre, Vladimir Ruban, who received the prisoners, noted that this transfer will contribute to the acceleration of the prisoner exchange process in the Donbas.