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Ukraine and the Russian Federation have reached a preliminary agreement on the exchange of held persons according to the 33-for-33 formula.

That's according to a report by RBC, with reference to informed sources.

The Ukrainian and Russian sides are preparing for an exchange according to the said formula, while former chief editor of RIA Novosti Ukraine, Kirill Vyshinsky, is not in this list, says the source familiar with the negotiations.

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Vyshinsky's transfer could be held according to a special scheme, the publication notes.

Another source said that it's the very fact of Vyshinsky’s return, not his exchange, that is important for Moscow.

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Whether Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov will be released is also unknown.

The report noted that the Human Rights Commissioner of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, Liudmyla Denisova, has already arrived in Russia.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the Kremlin confirmed Russia was in contact with Ukraine on the issue of the exchange of held persons.