Russia awaiting official confirmation from Ukraine on exchange of fallen soldiers’ bodies

Russia’s Ministry of Defense said Moscow, pursuant to agreements reached in Istanbul, has already delivered the bodies of 1,212 deceased Ukrainian servicemen to the exchange site.

According to Lt. Gen. Alexander Zorin, a member of the Russian negotiating team, all the bodies have been identified as Ukrainian armed forces personnel based on uniform and location.

“This is the first batch, the first phase,” Zorin stated, adding that the Russian side is ready to fulfill all agreements, including the exchange of prisoners and the transfer of fallen soldiers’ bodies.

He also mentioned that in a few hours, other trains carrying bodies will also be moving across the border.

However, Zorin noted that there are signals suggesting the Ukrainian side may delay the exchange until next week, Kommersant reports.

Yesterday, Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to the Russian president, stated that Moscow is calling on Kyiv to retrieve the bodies of the fallen soldiers to lay them to rest in a proper manner.