Russia returns bodies of 1,200 more Ukrainians as part of POW swap

The speech stems from the Istanbul talks deal, but Russia claims Ukraine is not upholding its portion of the agreement.

Russia has returned the bodies of 1,200 much Ukrainians killed successful the war, according to Ukrainian authorities, bringing the full fig of bodies repatriated to implicit 4,800, portion the propulsion for a ceasefire and an extremity to the struggle present successful its 4th twelvemonth stay elusive.

Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners, the Ukrainian authorities assemblage that oversees affairs regarding prisoners of warfare (POW), announced the quality connected Telegram, saying the handover was portion of an agreement struck successful talks successful Istanbul earlier this month.

“I americium grateful to everyone progressive successful this humanitarian mission,” said Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. “Ahead is an important and liable signifier of identification. This is simply a analyzable and delicate enactment that volition springiness each household the accidental to person answers.”

In a bid of exchanges this week, Ukraine has repatriated much than 4,800 bodies returned by Russia, successful accordance with the Istanbul agreement, Ukrainian officials said. This marks 1 of the largest returns of warfare dormant since Russia launched its full-scale penetration of Ukraine successful February 2022.

Russia says Ukraine ‘hasn’t reciprocated’

Russian authorities media confirmed the latest handover of 1,200 Ukrainians, but said Moscow had not received a azygous Russian corpse successful return.

“Russia says Ukraine hasn’t stuck to its broadside [of the deal], that it hasn’t reciprocated” reported Al Jazeera’s Assed Baig from Kyiv.

Ukraine has yet to comment.

As per their statement successful Istanbul, Kyiv and Moscow are to each manus implicit arsenic galore arsenic 6,000 bodies and to speech sick and heavy wounded prisoners of warfare and those aged nether 25.

But Russia has truthful acold reported lone receiving a full of 27 Russian servicemen.

The latest handover of Ukrainians came arsenic Russia claimed to prehend the colony of Malynivka successful Ukraine’s Donetsk portion and besides appeared to adjacent successful connected the northeastern Sumy region.

“Russian forces are astir 18-20kms (11.2-12.4 miles) distant from the superior of the Sumy region, which has been nether changeless drone and rocket attack,” said Baig.