DPR war reporter swapped for two Ukrainian captives
DONETSK. Sept 8 (Interfax) - Two Ukrainian captives were exchanged for a war correspondent of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Yury Yurchenko, in the early hours of Monday morning, the DPR defense ministry told Interfax on Monday.
"It was an exchange for two persons, two Ukrainian captives were swapped for Yury Yurchenko. Since he was not liable for military service but only a military journalist, the exchange was for the people who did not swear an oath," the DPR defense ministry said.
"At this moment Yurchenko is in a hospital: he suffered fractures to his leg and ribs," he said. "Yurchenko says that he was tortured," the Defense Ministry said.
Yurchenko was captured by the Ukrainian military near the city of Shakhtarsk about three weeks ago. Doctors said his life is not in danger.
Ukrainian officials were not immediately available to comment on this information.