War: Russia returns bodies of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers

Russia has handed over the bodies of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers, including five who died in captivity, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on Monday.

In return, Ukraine repatriated the remains of 19 Russian troops, according to Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky.

The handover, carried out under agreements reached in Istanbul, is part of ongoing exchanges between both countries despite the war. Kyiv said the bodies would undergo identification by law enforcement agencies.

Tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Casualty figures remain unclear as both sides rarely disclose their losses.

Ukraine earlier indicated that discussions had included an exchange involving up to 6,000 fallen soldiers. Moscow, however, has described the repatriations as a unilateral humanitarian decision.
Francis Ugwu

War: Russia returns bodies of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers