Ukraine recovered 50 prisoners from Russia in exchange for the release of the same number of Russian prisoners yesterday, Sunday, in a deal welcomed by both parties despite ongoing fighting between them in eastern Ukraine.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said the fifty released Russian soldiers will be flown to Moscow for medical and psychological rehabilitation.

The ministry also stated: "On January 8, as a result of negotiations, 50 Russian soldiers, who were in mortal danger during their captivity, were returned from the territories controlled by the Kyiv regime."

Ukraine confirmed the information and said that Russia released 50 Ukrainian soldiers as part of the same agreement.

Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, also wrote on Twitter: "Another successful prisoner of war exchange deal. 50 Ukrainian soldiers have returned." He added: "It will continue. We must bring all our people home, and we are working on that."

Yermak posted photos of the released Ukrainian soldiers carrying food bags near a bus they were about to board, in addition to a video clip of them singing the Ukrainian national anthem as the bus started moving.