As reported by the online media Suspilne.
During the transfer of the bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers, Russia also hands over the bodies of its own soldiers, complicating the identification process. This was reported by Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko.
“Russia is turning the repatriation of fallen soldiers’ bodies into a tool of manipulation and pressure. The enemy deliberately complicates our identification efforts, creates chaos, mixing Russian soldiers’ bodies with those of Ukrainians.”
The minister noted that the Ukrainian side has confirmed facts and names of Russian soldiers and officers handed over by Russia. He also presented documents of one of the servicemen found among the returned bodies.
“Body No. 192/25. Dressed in the uniform of the Russian Armed Forces. On him – a Russian citizen’s passport, military ID, serviceman’s certificate coupon No. 1252, extracts from the order of the commander of military unit No. 52 dated 26.12.2023, a dog tag inscribed: ‘ВС РОССИИ МТ-146004’. Identity established: Bugaev Oleksandr Viktorovych, born in 1974, serviceman of the 1st battalion of the 39th separate guards motorized rifle brigade of the Russian Federation (military unit 35390).”
According to Klymenko, the relatives of the deceased began searching at the end of March after his disappearance near Novomykhailivka in Donetsk region. The minister emphasized that this indicates Russia’s disrespectful attitude toward its own military and is an attempt to avoid payments to the families of the fallen.
“This is further proof of how disrespectfully Russia treats its people, mixing their bodies with those of Ukrainian soldiers. It shows how little human life means to Russia. Or it’s simply a way to avoid paying families. But payments will still have to be made: we are returning these bodies.”
Exchanges and Repatriation of Fallen Soldiers’ Bodies
On June 2 in Istanbul, representatives of Ukraine and Russia agreed on a prisoner exchange in the format of 1,000 for 1,000, as well as an additional exchange of 200 for 200 people. Additionally, the parties agreed on the repatriation of 6,000 bodies of the fallen from each side.
On June 7, Russia accused Ukraine of allegedly postponing the exchange indefinitely, but the Coordination Headquarters for Prisoner Treatment denied this information.
On June 9, the first stage of the prisoner exchange took place, during which soldiers under 25 years old were returned home. On June 10 and 12, stages of exchanging severely wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war occurred. The number of those returned is not disclosed for security reasons.
On June 11, 1,212 bodies of fallen Ukrainian servicemen were repatriated. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Moscow received 27 bodies in return. During negotiations in Istanbul, an agreement was reached on repatriation in the format of “6,000 for 6,000.”
On June 14, another prisoner exchange took place, during which seriously ill, severely wounded, and some soldiers under 25 years old were returned home. On the same day, Ukraine received the bodies of another 1,200 fallen Ukrainians, including servicemen.
On June 15, Ukraine received another 1,200 bodies of the fallen, and on June 16 – 1,245 bodies.
More interesting materials:
- Ukraine and Russia are negotiating the repatriation of over 6,000 fallen soldiers’ bodies amid ongoing prisoner exchanges and diplomatic tensions.
- Ukraine receives mixed and damaged bodies of soldiers from Russia during repatriation, complicating identification efforts amid ongoing prisoner exchanges.
- Ukraine repatriated 1200 bodies of fallen soldiers on June 15, continuing prisoner exchanges with Russia under recent agreements.
