Thursday, 30 Ukrainian war prisoners returned to the country as part of the latest prisoner exchange with Russia, according to the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine.

The prisoner exchange took place by order of President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to AFP.

"Five officers and 17 servicemen were exchanged," Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in a statement on social media.

Additionally "eight civilians, including one woman, were released. In total, 30 of our citizens are going home today," she added.