The conflicting sides reached a deal to swap 150 captive Ukrainian soldiers for 225 militia troops from the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.

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The exchange is taking place 30 to 35 kilometers away from Donetsk, halfway between the city and the village of Konstantinovka.

Kiev handed over 222 people to the militias, while self-defense forces brought 145 Ukrainian troops to the exchange point.

They were handed over on Friday, except for one Kiev soldier who refused to be exchanged.

Five more militia troops from Lugansk will be brought to the exchange on Saturday, RIA Novosti cited Donetsk People's Republic Defense Minister Vladimir Kononov, as saying.

Prisoner swap Correction. #Ukraine got 145 soldiers & #DNR got 222 people, mostly non combatant civilians http://ift.tt/1xV8R9g

— Roman Kosarev (@Kosarev_RT) December 26, 2014

RT’s Roman Kosarev, who was present at the exchange on Friday, said that only 55 people brought by Kiev were actual militia members; the rest were civilians.

The prisoners are being swapped by a group of 10 people, according to Darya Morozova, who heads the exchange committee for the Donetsk People’s Republic.

She also confirmed that only 55 militia troops are being swapped, saying that “we have no idea who the rest of the people are.”

Prisoner swap between #Ukraine and #Donetsk people's republic begins. http://ift.tt/13JZ9JI

— Roman Kosarev (@Kosarev_RT) December 26, 2014

According to Morozova, the exchange will take two days, with Donetsk captives being transferred on Friday and Lugansk prisoners on Saturday, Tass news agency reported.

Several prisoner exchanges between Kiev and the self-proclaimed republics have taken place since the sides reached a ceasefire agreement on September 5.

A previous swap took place in Donbas in November.

READ MORE: Prisoner swaps on shaky ground in Ukraine as Kiev accused of foul play

The military conflict in Ukraine began in April, after the Donetsk and Lugansk regions refused to recognize the new coup-imposed authorities in Kiev.

The violence in southeastern Ukraine has led to the deaths of at least 4,707 people. An additional 10,322 have been wounded, according to UN estimates.