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             Ukraine, Pro-Russian Rebel Prisoner Exchange Continues

   by VOA News

   Several Ukrainian prisoners are set to be handed over to Kyiv Saturday
   by pro-Russian separatists, a day after the two sides exchanged
   hundreds of prisoners.

   Saturday's exchange will complete a prisoner swap.

   The office of Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko says Ukraine handed
   over 222 rebel captives Friday, while separatists released 146
   Ukrainian servicemen in the largest exchange of prisoners since
   separatists launched their uprising in April.

   "As a president and as an ordinary citizen my heart is full with joy,"
   Poroshenko said. "As I have promised, you will be able to celebrate New
   Year with your families and military friends. That is what you and we
   have been waiting for so long. Thank you very much."

   The exchange, shown on Russian television, was to have taken place
   earlier in the week.  But last-minute discord at truce talks held in
   Belarus forced the brief postponement and the indefinite suspension of
   a second day of negotiations that were to have taken place Friday.

   In a separate development, the Kyiv government announced Friday it is
   suspending all train and bus service to and from the Crimea Peninsula.
   Crimea was annexed by Russia early this year despite widespread
   protests from Western governments and the United Nations.

   Ukrainian transportation officials attributed the transportation cuts
   to "deteriorating" security conditions on the Black Sea peninsula.

   Russia's annexation of Crimea in March came just weeks after huge
   protests in Kyiv forced Ukraine's Moscow-backed former president Viktor
   Yanukovych from office.  Rebels launched their rebellion near the
   Russian border less than a month later.

   The fighting has claimed more than 4,700 lives, including 1,300
   fatalities since a truce agreed on in September fell a part before it
   could be fully implemented.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-pro-russian-rebels-continue-t
   o-exchange-prisoners/2575628.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-pro-russian-rebels-continue-to-exchange-prisoners/2575628.html