Donetsk, Nov 1 — DAN. Russia and Ukraine have carried out two prisoner exchanges over the past few days; nine militiamen returned to the Donetsk People’s Republic, DPR ombudsperson Darya Morozova said on Tuesday.

“The Russian Federation and Ukraine had two more prisoner swaps last week, ” Morozova wrote on Telegram adding that “nine DPR militiamen are among the returnees.  Four of them returned home at the weekend, and another five arrived in the Republic on Tuesday. They are all from the mobilized task force, most of them are students.”

The former POWs have been sent for medical checkups; assistance will be provided at hospitals if need be. Morozova said that the former POWs had been beaten up and tortured.

There has been no direct dialogue over prisoner exchange between the DPR and Ukraine since the beginning of the special military operation. All contacts are maintained at the level of official representatives of the Russian Federation. “For our part, we prepare lists of DPR militiamen held captive by Ukraine, ” Morozova said. “Of course, our guys will be put on the general prisoner exchange lists, ” she said expressing gratitude to everybody involved in the release of DPR militiamen.

On October 26, Day, DPR interim Head Denis Pushilin announced a prisoner exchange with Kiev under the “50 for 50” formula. The prisoner swap with Ukraine on October 17 was carried out under the formula “110 for 110.” *jk