Volodymyr ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y says the first group of Ukrainians have returned home from captivity as part of the latest exchange with Russia.
Both Moscow and Kyiv spent the last few days accusing each other of stalling the exchange, which was agreed during direct talks in Istanbul last week.
Posting on social media, ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y said the exchange will continue in several stages in the coming days.
He added the first group returning were the wounded and seriously wounded, as well as those under 25.
"The process is quite complicated, with many sensitive details, and negotiations continue virtually every day," ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y says.
"We are doing our utmost to return everyone. We are working for this at all levels. We must bring home everyone who is in captivity. Thank you to everyone who is helping."
Earlier, Russia said it had heard "a hundred different excuses" over why the exchange had not taken place already, with Kyiv saying it had not received the full list of prisoners to be released (see 11.07am post).