Zholobok (Ukraine) (AFP) - Ukraine's military and pro-Russian separatists on Saturday began exchanging scores of prisoners each had taken, AFP journalists present in the frontline town where the swap was occurring reported.

The rebels said they were swapping 139 Ukrainian soldiers for 52 of their fighters held by the other side. The exchange was being carried out as part of a UN-backed truce that has been violated many times since coming into effect a week ago.