Russia has handed over the remains of 1,200 Ukrainians killed in the ongoing war, Ukrainian officials reported, pushing the total number of repatriated bodies to over 4,800.
The transfer, facilitated by an agreement reached in Istanbul earlier this month, underscores the human toll of a conflict now in its fourth year, with no ceasefire in sight.
Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners announced the handover on Telegram, describing it as part of a broader deal to exchange war dead and prisoners.
“This mission is a step toward closure for families,” said Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. “The delicate task of identification lies ahead, ensuring answers for those grieving.”
The repatriation, one of the largest since Russia’s 2022 invasion, follows a series of exchanges that have returned over 4,800 Ukrainian bodies. The Istanbul accord stipulates that both nations exchange up to 6,000 remains, alongside sick, severely injured, or young prisoners of war.
However, Russian state media claimed Moscow received no Ukrainian-held Russian remains in this round, accusing Kyiv of failing to reciprocate. Ukrainian authorities have not responded to the allegation.
Russia has reported receiving only 27 of its servicemen’s bodies so far, highlighting tensions in the agreement’s implementation.
Meanwhile, Russia’s military claimed control of Malynivka village in Ukraine’s Donetsk region and advanced toward Sumy, now just 18-20 kilometers from its capital, which faces relentless drone and missile strikes, according to Al Jazeera’s Assed Baig in Kyiv.
On Sunday, Ukraine’s military reported striking a Russian drone production facility in Yelabuga, Tatarstan, over 1,000 kilometers from Ukraine.
The site, used to manufacture and launch drones targeting Ukrainian infrastructure, was a strategic hit, per Ukraine’s General Staff.
As both sides navigate fragile agreements amid escalating hostilities, the return of the fallen offers a fleeting moment of humanity in a protracted war, though peace remains elusive.
Source: Al Jazeera
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