Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko confirmed Monday's release by the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic of 16 Ukrainian soldiers who had been held prisoner by the DPR.

"Sixteen of our Heroes have just been released from captivity. The guys are on a bus traveling to Kramatorsk," Poroshenko said on Twitter.

Earlier, the release had been announced by the DPR.

DPR human rights commissioner Darya Morozova told reporters the 16 prisoners were the last Ukrainian soldiers remaining in DPR captivity, and that "there is no prisoner left on the territory of the LPR [self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic] either."