Donetsk, Dec 13 – DAN. DPR Ombudswoman Daria Morozova urged the Ukrainian side to carry out the prisoners exchange before December 25.

"We don't oppose the POW exchange before December 25. Even more, we urge the Ukrainian side to carry out the exchange before the abovementioned date," she said.

According to Morozova, exchange lists have already been approved "at the top level".

Last time, the exchange between Donbass and Ukraine took place in the autumn 2016, more than a year ago. Since that time all attempts to coordinate a new swop failed as Kiev protracted talks creating problems and pretexts.

The telephone call from Russian president Vladimir Putin to DPR and leaders broke the ice on November 15, as the initiative of Ukrainian special representative for humanitarian issues Viktor Medvedchuk concerning the POWs swop was discussed. Shortly after, the DPR announced it is willing for the exchange which is to take place before the year ends. *ot