11.06.2025 16:05
Russia handed over the frozen remains of 1,212 Ukrainian soldiers who lost their lives in the war to Ukraine as a result of negotiations hosted by Turkey. In a statement made by the Coordination Center for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, it was noted that the return of the bodies was significantly supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the relevant units of Ukraine.
A written statement from the Telegram account of the Coordination Center for the Treatment of Ukrainian War Prisoners stated that, as part of the exchange with Russia, the bodies of 1212 Ukrainian soldiers who lost their lives in the war were retrieved.
BODIES BROUGHT TO THE COUNTRY
The statement mentioned that the bodies of soldiers who lost their lives in the conflicts in Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Russia's Kursk region were brought back to the country, noting that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and relevant Ukrainian units made significant contributions to the return of the bodies. The statement expressed that efforts would be made as soon as possible to identify the deceased soldiers.
"UKRAINE HAD SAID IT POSTPONED THE ACCEPTANCE OF BODIES"
Vladimir Medinskiy, who chaired the Russian delegation in direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul, stated on June 7 that he called on Ukraine to adhere to the agreements reached in the negotiations in Istanbul, saying, "The Ukrainian side unexpectedly postponed the acceptance of the bodies and the exchange of prisoners indefinitely."
Medinskiy pointed out that agreements had been reached regarding the delivery of the bodies of 6,000 soldiers frozen on the Ukrainian side, as well as the exchange of severely wounded and sick soldiers and prisoners under the age of 25, stating that the Russian side had initiated efforts to implement these agreements. Medinskiy said, "The frozen bodies of 1212 soldiers were delivered to the exchange area by refrigerated vehicles. The remaining bodies are also on the way. Additionally, to initiate the exchange process, the first list of 640 soldiers, consisting of severely wounded, sick, and those under 25 years old, was provided to Ukraine," he stated.
WHAT HAD HAPPENED?
As a result of the negotiations held in Istanbul on June 2, hosted by Turkey, agreements were reached regarding the delivery of the frozen bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers, as well as the exchange of severely ill and wounded soldiers and prisoners under the age of 25.
Within the framework of this agreement, a two-stage exchange of prisoners under the age of 25, severely ill, and wounded soldiers was carried out between Russia and Ukraine on June 9 and 10.