The exchange began as intended, at 11 a.m. Sunday10:55, 29 December 2019400

Armed militants, prisoner swap, December 2019TASS

Members of the pro-Kremlin illegal armed formations in Donbas brought the forcefully held Ukrainians to the site of exchange. 

Vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross parked in the area. OSCE vehicles patrol the premises, checking whether the exchange procedure is not violated.

According to Andriy Pavlovsky’s Telegram channel, as of 10.50 a.m., the Ukrainians prepared for the swap already were on site.Related: Protesters block remand prison in Kyiv to prevent prisoner swap with occupied Donbas

Ukraine’s government and that of the occupied Donbas agreed that the exchange would begin on 11 a.m. December 29. The respective agreements were made on December 23, during the Minsk group session.

The venue is Mayorske entry-exit checkpoint in Donetsk region. As of 11 a.m., the exchange procedure began, and first Ukrainians crossed the checkpoint.

(c)112UA 2019