Ukraine trades 'collaborator' clergy for POWs in swaps with Russia

FILE PHOTO: Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, speaks with Reuters during an interview, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 7, 2023. REUTERS/Anna Voitenko

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine has exchanged a number of clergymen from a minority branch of the Orthodox Church with historically close ties to Moscow to win the release of soldiers captured in Russia's invasion, two security officials said.

One was swapped for 28 Ukrainian soldiers, one of the officials said, providing a rare glimpse into the bargaining that takes place when Russia and Ukraine negotiate prisoner swaps.