KIEV, Ukraine – Ukraine and Russia have conducted the first prisoner swap since Moscow declared war on Kiev on February 24, according to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk. Xinhua news quoted Vereshchuk as stating in a Facebook post that ten Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russian forces were released in exchange for ten Russian servicemen captured by Ukrainian forces.

In addition, Ukraine sent Russia 11 civilian Russian sailors recovered from a wrecked ship near Odessa in return for 19 Ukrainian civilian sailors, she said. "Under the terms of the swap, the rescue ship will also be returned to Ukraine and sent to a Turkish port."

Meanwhile, the member states of the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine on Thursday. The resolution, which was written by Ukraine and its allies, gained 140 votes in favour, 5 votes against, and 38 abstentions.

The document strongly encourages all parties to continue negotiations and calls for an expedient peaceful resolution of the crisis between Russia and Ukraine "by political discourse, negotiations, mediation, and other peaceful means consistent with international law."

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