KIEV: Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister, Iryna Vereshchuk, announced that the country has completed a second prisoner swap with Russia, following the first that occurred late last month.

Ukrayinska Pravda, Vereshchuk said in a statement that the "86 for 86" prisoner exchange took place on President Volodymyr Zelensky's instruction.  15 women troops were among the 86 captives who went home, according to the Deputy Prime Minister.  One of the main stances of the Ukrainian side for the swap was to include the 15 female soldiers.

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the presidential office, also confirmed the swap, saying the exchanged detainees were currently in Ukrainian government-controlled territory.

Ukrayinska Pravda said, Ukrainian officials performed the first 10-for-10 prisoner swap on March 24, while also liberating 19 crew members of the rescue ship Sapfir, which had been taken by Russian forces. The authorities also swapped nine Russian conscripts for Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov, who was kidnapped.

On March 1, local authorities in the Sumy region swapped a Russian commander for five territory defence forces fighters. Since the battle began on February 24, Ukraine claims that 24 local government officials have been abducted.

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