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Kiev confirms preparations for prisoner exchange — security service

The self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) military police head Viktor Anosov said earlier that prisoner exchange between DPR and Ukraine will take place today in the "4 for 2" basis

KIEV, September 8. /TASS/. Ukraine is preparing for prisoner exchange, the country’s Security Service advisor to chairman Yury Tnadit said on Tuesday.

"I can say that this is true. Today, we are preparing to free prisoners. From our side, the security of prisoner exchange is ensured. We do not comment on today’s swap until it is through," Tandit told Ukrainian National News agency.

The self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) military police head Viktor Anosov said earlier that prisoner exchange between DPR and Ukraine will take place today in the "4 for 2" basis (four DPR militiamen for two Ukrainian servicemen).

Last prisoner swap was held on August 26. Kiev handed 12 militiamen in exchange for 12 Ukrainian servicemen. One of Ukrainian servicemen decided to stay in Donetsk.

Minsk agreements on Ukraine

Prisoner exchange is envisaged by the Minsk agreements. The Minsk accords were signed on February 12, after negotiations in the so-called "Normandy format" in the Belarusian capital Minsk, bringing together Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko.

The Minsk accords also envisage ceasefire, weaponry withdrawal, local election in Donbass, constitutional reform in Ukraine and establishing working sub-groups on security, political, economy and humanitarian components of the Minsk accords.

The Ukrainian forces and the self-defense forces of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk republics have repeatedly accused each other of violating ceasefire and other points of the Minsk agreements.