More than 100 Ukrainian women have been released from Russian captivity as part of what is thought to be one of the biggest prisoner swaps in the war so far.
Some 218 detainees were exchanged on Monday – 108 Ukrainian woman and 110 Russian civilian sailors and military personnel.
According to the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Denis Pushilin, each side was expected to release 110 prisoners but his side handed over only 108 Ukrainians because two wanted to stay in Russia.
Of the Ukrainians, 12 were civilians and 37 had been captured by Russian forces after the fall of the Azovstal steelworks in the port city of Mariupol in May.
Among them was medic Viktoria Obidina, who said that the group had no idea they would be exchanged until the last moment.
