Rebels ready for prisoner swap

Pro-Russian rebels yesterday prepared to swap prisoners with their Ukrainian government foes as part of a battered ceasefire, as an adviser to Ukraine's president said Kiev had lost 179 troops in fighting over the past month.

In an exchange the West hopes will cool a deadly conflict that has poisoned relations with Moscow, around 40 prisoners on each side -- some of them wounded -- were to be handed over in the rebel stronghold of Lugansk, the rebels' official for human rights Daria Morozova said.

The US and Britain, meanwhile, said they were considering imposing further sanctions against Russia.

The detained Ukrainian troops due to be exchanged were taken to Lugansk in a convoy that included invited journalists, who saw the bearded and tired-looking soldiers. One had his arm bandaged.

There was no immediate confirmation of the prisoner swap from the Ukrainian side, although smaller exchanges have taken place from in past weeks with little fanfare.

If it goes ahead, the exchange would be a rare act of compliance with the truce that has been repeatedly violated since coming into effect February 15.

The final days of the battle for Debaltseve, when the pro-Russian separatists overran the strategic transport hub midway between Donetsk and Lugansk, were the most egregious breach of the ceasefire.

The offensive forced 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers to flee under fire, leaving 112 as prisoners of the rebels.

Under the truce, both sides were to withdraw their heavy weapons from the frontline by March 3, carry out a prisoner exchange, conduct negotiations on greater autonomy in rebel-held areas, and eventually restore Ukraine's control over all of its border with Russia.

Kiev and the rebels continue to trade accusations of shelling, mortar rounds and rocket strikes targeting their positions.

Ukrainian defence officials allege that Russia has deployed 20 tanks towards the port city of Mariupol and that their forces have shot down a dozen enemy reconnaissance drones controlled from over the border.