KYIV – Ukraine and Russia-backed militants have exchanged a total of 34 prisoners ahead of the Julian calendar Easter celebrations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelens­kyy’s office said on April 16 that 20 Ukrainians who were in the custody of the militants were returned to Kyiv.

The “separatists” said 14 people were handed to them by Kyiv authorities.

The Ukrainian and Russian sides in the so-called Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) said last week that they had agreed on to hold the swap before Easter on April 19.