Russia accuses Ukraine of postponing prisoner exchange
Ukraine has unexpectedly postponed exchanging prisoners of war and accepting the bodies of killed soldiers for an indefinite period, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky says.
Russia and Ukraine held the second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, agreeing to exchange more prisoners - focusing on the youngest and most severely wounded - and return the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers.
"In strict accordance with the Istanbul agreements, on June 6, Russia began a humanitarian operation to hand over to Ukraine more than 6000 bodies of killed Ukrainian servicemen, as well as to exchange wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war and prisoners of war under the age of 25," Medinsky said on Telegram.
He said 1212 bodies of killed Ukrainian soldiers were in refrigerated containers at the exchange point.
Russia has also handed over to Ukraine the first list of 640 prisoners of war, categorised as "wounded, seriously ill and young people", to begin the exchange, Medinsky said.
"The Russian Defence Ministry's contact group is on the border with Ukraine," he said, adding that Ukrainian negotiators were not at the exchange location.
Ukrainian officials responsible for the exchanges did not respond to a request for comment.
Medinsky urged Ukraine to strictly adhere to the schedule and the agreements and to immediately proceed with the exchange.
"We are on site. We are fully prepared to work," he said.
"International TV channels, news agencies and correspondents are welcome to come and see for themselves that this is indeed the case."
Ukraine has unexpectedly postponed exchanging prisoners of war and accepting the bodies of killed soldiers for an indefinite period, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky says.
Russia and Ukraine held the second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, agreeing to exchange more prisoners - focusing on the youngest and most severely wounded - and return the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers.
"In strict accordance with the Istanbul agreements, on June 6, Russia began a humanitarian operation to hand over to Ukraine more than 6000 bodies of killed Ukrainian servicemen, as well as to exchange wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war and prisoners of war under the age of 25," Medinsky said on Telegram.
He said 1212 bodies of killed Ukrainian soldiers were in refrigerated containers at the exchange point.
Russia has also handed over to Ukraine the first list of 640 prisoners of war, categorised as "wounded, seriously ill and young people", to begin the exchange, Medinsky said.
"The Russian Defence Ministry's contact group is on the border with Ukraine," he said, adding that Ukrainian negotiators were not at the exchange location.
Ukrainian officials responsible for the exchanges did not respond to a request for comment.
Medinsky urged Ukraine to strictly adhere to the schedule and the agreements and to immediately proceed with the exchange.
"We are on site. We are fully prepared to work," he said.
"International TV channels, news agencies and correspondents are welcome to come and see for themselves that this is indeed the case."
Ukraine has unexpectedly postponed exchanging prisoners of war and accepting the bodies of killed soldiers for an indefinite period, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky says.
Russia and Ukraine held the second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, agreeing to exchange more prisoners - focusing on the youngest and most severely wounded - and return the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers.
"In strict accordance with the Istanbul agreements, on June 6, Russia began a humanitarian operation to hand over to Ukraine more than 6000 bodies of killed Ukrainian servicemen, as well as to exchange wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war and prisoners of war under the age of 25," Medinsky said on Telegram.
He said 1212 bodies of killed Ukrainian soldiers were in refrigerated containers at the exchange point.
Russia has also handed over to Ukraine the first list of 640 prisoners of war, categorised as "wounded, seriously ill and young people", to begin the exchange, Medinsky said.
"The Russian Defence Ministry's contact group is on the border with Ukraine," he said, adding that Ukrainian negotiators were not at the exchange location.
Ukrainian officials responsible for the exchanges did not respond to a request for comment.
Medinsky urged Ukraine to strictly adhere to the schedule and the agreements and to immediately proceed with the exchange.
"We are on site. We are fully prepared to work," he said.
"International TV channels, news agencies and correspondents are welcome to come and see for themselves that this is indeed the case."
Ukraine has unexpectedly postponed exchanging prisoners of war and accepting the bodies of killed soldiers for an indefinite period, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky says.
Russia and Ukraine held the second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, agreeing to exchange more prisoners - focusing on the youngest and most severely wounded - and return the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers.
"In strict accordance with the Istanbul agreements, on June 6, Russia began a humanitarian operation to hand over to Ukraine more than 6000 bodies of killed Ukrainian servicemen, as well as to exchange wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war and prisoners of war under the age of 25," Medinsky said on Telegram.
He said 1212 bodies of killed Ukrainian soldiers were in refrigerated containers at the exchange point.
Russia has also handed over to Ukraine the first list of 640 prisoners of war, categorised as "wounded, seriously ill and young people", to begin the exchange, Medinsky said.
"The Russian Defence Ministry's contact group is on the border with Ukraine," he said, adding that Ukrainian negotiators were not at the exchange location.
Ukrainian officials responsible for the exchanges did not respond to a request for comment.
Medinsky urged Ukraine to strictly adhere to the schedule and the agreements and to immediately proceed with the exchange.
"We are on site. We are fully prepared to work," he said.
"International TV channels, news agencies and correspondents are welcome to come and see for themselves that this is indeed the case."
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Russian airstrike on Ukraine park 'pure terrorism'
Drones, bombs and missiles have rained down on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv in one of Russia's most intense bombardments of Ukraine's second biggest city. A 30-year-old woman was killed on Saturday, Kharkiv's military governor, Oleh Syniehubov, wrote on Telegram. In the evening, a 62-year-old man also died in hospital from his injuries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said more than 40 people were injured in the attack. "This makes no military sense. It is pure terrorism," he wrote on social media platform X. Russia dropped four glide bombs on the city centre, damaging two buildings belonging to a children's railway, train carriages and two houses, Syniehubov said. He said the area was a popular place for families to spend time on the weekend. On Saturday morning, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported three deaths in Russian airstrikes on the city, which also hit residential buildings. He said the strikes injured 21 people, including a baby and a 14-year-old girl. According to Ukrainian sources, 53 drones, four glide bombs and a missile struck various locations in the earlier attack. Terekhov said the attack was the most severe that the city had experienced since the war began more than three years ago. Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, is located close to the Russian border and has repeatedly been the target of Russian attacks. Zelenskiy again highlighted Ukraine's need for strengthened air defence and directly appealed to the United States. "We urgently need positive signals from the United States - concrete signals regarding air defence systems. We are still waiting for a response to our request to purchase systems that can help - concrete signals, not words," he said in his nightly address. "I would like to thank the European countries for the supplies. We must also achieve results in the joint production of air defence systems and missiles for them - this is absolutely essential for our whole Europe," he said. "Only time separates us from that result, and what matters most is shortening that time." Zelenskiy also renewed his calls for increased international pressure, stating that "no form of pressure on Russia can be eased". Meanwhile Russia and Ukraine are wrangling over the implementation of the prisoner exchange and return of 6000 dead soldiers agreed on Monday in Istanbul. Moscow's chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, said on Telegram on Saturday that the Russian side was waiting at the handover point with 1212 frozen bodies in refrigerators ready to begin the initiative, but the Ukrainian envoys were absent. In addition, he said a list of 640 detainees had been handed over to Ukraine for the latest planned prisoner exchange. The other remains were also said to be on their way. The Defence Ministry released a video showing white bags, allegedly containing the bodies, being transported in lorries. Medinsky accused Ukraine of not honouring the agreement and delaying the prisoner swap. The Ukrainian co-ordination staff responded that the timing of the handover had not been agreed upon but was unilaterally set by the Russians. In a statement on Telegram, the staff referred to "dirty games" and called on the Russian side to return to constructive work. The implementation of the agreements could take place "in the coming days," the staff in Kiev said. At the same time, Ukraine rejected Russian accusations that the exchange of prisoners and the handover of the bodies were being delayed. with AP Drones, bombs and missiles have rained down on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv in one of Russia's most intense bombardments of Ukraine's second biggest city. A 30-year-old woman was killed on Saturday, Kharkiv's military governor, Oleh Syniehubov, wrote on Telegram. In the evening, a 62-year-old man also died in hospital from his injuries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said more than 40 people were injured in the attack. "This makes no military sense. It is pure terrorism," he wrote on social media platform X. Russia dropped four glide bombs on the city centre, damaging two buildings belonging to a children's railway, train carriages and two houses, Syniehubov said. He said the area was a popular place for families to spend time on the weekend. On Saturday morning, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported three deaths in Russian airstrikes on the city, which also hit residential buildings. He said the strikes injured 21 people, including a baby and a 14-year-old girl. According to Ukrainian sources, 53 drones, four glide bombs and a missile struck various locations in the earlier attack. Terekhov said the attack was the most severe that the city had experienced since the war began more than three years ago. Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, is located close to the Russian border and has repeatedly been the target of Russian attacks. Zelenskiy again highlighted Ukraine's need for strengthened air defence and directly appealed to the United States. "We urgently need positive signals from the United States - concrete signals regarding air defence systems. We are still waiting for a response to our request to purchase systems that can help - concrete signals, not words," he said in his nightly address. "I would like to thank the European countries for the supplies. We must also achieve results in the joint production of air defence systems and missiles for them - this is absolutely essential for our whole Europe," he said. "Only time separates us from that result, and what matters most is shortening that time." Zelenskiy also renewed his calls for increased international pressure, stating that "no form of pressure on Russia can be eased". Meanwhile Russia and Ukraine are wrangling over the implementation of the prisoner exchange and return of 6000 dead soldiers agreed on Monday in Istanbul. Moscow's chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, said on Telegram on Saturday that the Russian side was waiting at the handover point with 1212 frozen bodies in refrigerators ready to begin the initiative, but the Ukrainian envoys were absent. In addition, he said a list of 640 detainees had been handed over to Ukraine for the latest planned prisoner exchange. The other remains were also said to be on their way. The Defence Ministry released a video showing white bags, allegedly containing the bodies, being transported in lorries. Medinsky accused Ukraine of not honouring the agreement and delaying the prisoner swap. The Ukrainian co-ordination staff responded that the timing of the handover had not been agreed upon but was unilaterally set by the Russians. In a statement on Telegram, the staff referred to "dirty games" and called on the Russian side to return to constructive work. The implementation of the agreements could take place "in the coming days," the staff in Kiev said. At the same time, Ukraine rejected Russian accusations that the exchange of prisoners and the handover of the bodies were being delayed. with AP Drones, bombs and missiles have rained down on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv in one of Russia's most intense bombardments of Ukraine's second biggest city. A 30-year-old woman was killed on Saturday, Kharkiv's military governor, Oleh Syniehubov, wrote on Telegram. In the evening, a 62-year-old man also died in hospital from his injuries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said more than 40 people were injured in the attack. "This makes no military sense. It is pure terrorism," he wrote on social media platform X. Russia dropped four glide bombs on the city centre, damaging two buildings belonging to a children's railway, train carriages and two houses, Syniehubov said. He said the area was a popular place for families to spend time on the weekend. On Saturday morning, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported three deaths in Russian airstrikes on the city, which also hit residential buildings. He said the strikes injured 21 people, including a baby and a 14-year-old girl. According to Ukrainian sources, 53 drones, four glide bombs and a missile struck various locations in the earlier attack. Terekhov said the attack was the most severe that the city had experienced since the war began more than three years ago. Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, is located close to the Russian border and has repeatedly been the target of Russian attacks. Zelenskiy again highlighted Ukraine's need for strengthened air defence and directly appealed to the United States. "We urgently need positive signals from the United States - concrete signals regarding air defence systems. We are still waiting for a response to our request to purchase systems that can help - concrete signals, not words," he said in his nightly address. "I would like to thank the European countries for the supplies. We must also achieve results in the joint production of air defence systems and missiles for them - this is absolutely essential for our whole Europe," he said. "Only time separates us from that result, and what matters most is shortening that time." Zelenskiy also renewed his calls for increased international pressure, stating that "no form of pressure on Russia can be eased". Meanwhile Russia and Ukraine are wrangling over the implementation of the prisoner exchange and return of 6000 dead soldiers agreed on Monday in Istanbul. Moscow's chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, said on Telegram on Saturday that the Russian side was waiting at the handover point with 1212 frozen bodies in refrigerators ready to begin the initiative, but the Ukrainian envoys were absent. In addition, he said a list of 640 detainees had been handed over to Ukraine for the latest planned prisoner exchange. The other remains were also said to be on their way. The Defence Ministry released a video showing white bags, allegedly containing the bodies, being transported in lorries. Medinsky accused Ukraine of not honouring the agreement and delaying the prisoner swap. The Ukrainian co-ordination staff responded that the timing of the handover had not been agreed upon but was unilaterally set by the Russians. In a statement on Telegram, the staff referred to "dirty games" and called on the Russian side to return to constructive work. The implementation of the agreements could take place "in the coming days," the staff in Kiev said. At the same time, Ukraine rejected Russian accusations that the exchange of prisoners and the handover of the bodies were being delayed. with AP Drones, bombs and missiles have rained down on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv in one of Russia's most intense bombardments of Ukraine's second biggest city. A 30-year-old woman was killed on Saturday, Kharkiv's military governor, Oleh Syniehubov, wrote on Telegram. In the evening, a 62-year-old man also died in hospital from his injuries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said more than 40 people were injured in the attack. "This makes no military sense. It is pure terrorism," he wrote on social media platform X. Russia dropped four glide bombs on the city centre, damaging two buildings belonging to a children's railway, train carriages and two houses, Syniehubov said. He said the area was a popular place for families to spend time on the weekend. On Saturday morning, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported three deaths in Russian airstrikes on the city, which also hit residential buildings. He said the strikes injured 21 people, including a baby and a 14-year-old girl. According to Ukrainian sources, 53 drones, four glide bombs and a missile struck various locations in the earlier attack. Terekhov said the attack was the most severe that the city had experienced since the war began more than three years ago. Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, is located close to the Russian border and has repeatedly been the target of Russian attacks. Zelenskiy again highlighted Ukraine's need for strengthened air defence and directly appealed to the United States. "We urgently need positive signals from the United States - concrete signals regarding air defence systems. We are still waiting for a response to our request to purchase systems that can help - concrete signals, not words," he said in his nightly address. "I would like to thank the European countries for the supplies. We must also achieve results in the joint production of air defence systems and missiles for them - this is absolutely essential for our whole Europe," he said. "Only time separates us from that result, and what matters most is shortening that time." Zelenskiy also renewed his calls for increased international pressure, stating that "no form of pressure on Russia can be eased". Meanwhile Russia and Ukraine are wrangling over the implementation of the prisoner exchange and return of 6000 dead soldiers agreed on Monday in Istanbul. Moscow's chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, said on Telegram on Saturday that the Russian side was waiting at the handover point with 1212 frozen bodies in refrigerators ready to begin the initiative, but the Ukrainian envoys were absent. In addition, he said a list of 640 detainees had been handed over to Ukraine for the latest planned prisoner exchange. The other remains were also said to be on their way. The Defence Ministry released a video showing white bags, allegedly containing the bodies, being transported in lorries. Medinsky accused Ukraine of not honouring the agreement and delaying the prisoner swap. The Ukrainian co-ordination staff responded that the timing of the handover had not been agreed upon but was unilaterally set by the Russians. In a statement on Telegram, the staff referred to "dirty games" and called on the Russian side to return to constructive work. The implementation of the agreements could take place "in the coming days," the staff in Kiev said. At the same time, Ukraine rejected Russian accusations that the exchange of prisoners and the handover of the bodies were being delayed. with AP
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Ukraine says it is not delaying exchange of bodies
Russian claims that Ukraine is delaying exchange of soldiers' bodies are untrue, Ukrainian officials say, urging the Kremlin to stop "playing dirty games" and return to constructive work. Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky said on Saturday that Ukraine had unexpectedly postponed exchanging prisoners of war and accepting the bodies of killed soldiers for an indefinite period. Russian aircraft on Saturday carried out a new bombing raid on Kharkiv, killing one civilian and injuring more than 40, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called "another brutal murder". Separately, Russian officials said a Ukrainian drone attack in the Moscow region wounded two people. Russia and Ukraine held the second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday where they agreed to exchange more prisoners - focusing on the youngest and most severely wounded - and to return the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers. "Today's statements by the Russian side do not correspond to reality or to previous agreements on either the exchange of prisoners or the repatriation of bodies," Ukraine's state-run Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on Telegram. It said that the agreement on the repatriation of the bodies had indeed been reached but that no date had been agreed upon and that "the Russian side had resorted to unilateral actions" that had not been agreed within the framework of the process. Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday it expected the exchange of prisoners of war and the transfer of the bodies to take place soon. "To date, Kyiv has not given its consent to conduct the humanitarian operations. Representatives of the Ukrainian contact group did not arrive at the meeting place. We do not know the reason for the delay," the ministry said in a statement, citing Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin. Medinsky said Russia had also handed over to Ukraine the first list of 640 prisoners of war, categorised as "wounded, seriously ill and young people," in order to begin the exchange. Ukraine, in turn, stated that it had also handed over the names for exchange, while Russia's lists did not correspond to the agreed approach as to which prisoners would be prioritised in the exchange. Medinsky earlier on Saturday urged Ukraine to strictly adhere to the schedule and the agreements and to immediately proceed with the exchange. He said that refrigerated trucks carrying more than 1200 bodies of Ukrainian troops from Russia had already reached the agreed exchange site. "We are on site. We are fully prepared to work," he said. "International TV channels, news agencies and correspondents are welcome to come and see for themselves that this is indeed the case." with AP Russian claims that Ukraine is delaying exchange of soldiers' bodies are untrue, Ukrainian officials say, urging the Kremlin to stop "playing dirty games" and return to constructive work. Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky said on Saturday that Ukraine had unexpectedly postponed exchanging prisoners of war and accepting the bodies of killed soldiers for an indefinite period. Russian aircraft on Saturday carried out a new bombing raid on Kharkiv, killing one civilian and injuring more than 40, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called "another brutal murder". Separately, Russian officials said a Ukrainian drone attack in the Moscow region wounded two people. Russia and Ukraine held the second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday where they agreed to exchange more prisoners - focusing on the youngest and most severely wounded - and to return the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers. "Today's statements by the Russian side do not correspond to reality or to previous agreements on either the exchange of prisoners or the repatriation of bodies," Ukraine's state-run Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on Telegram. It said that the agreement on the repatriation of the bodies had indeed been reached but that no date had been agreed upon and that "the Russian side had resorted to unilateral actions" that had not been agreed within the framework of the process. Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday it expected the exchange of prisoners of war and the transfer of the bodies to take place soon. "To date, Kyiv has not given its consent to conduct the humanitarian operations. Representatives of the Ukrainian contact group did not arrive at the meeting place. We do not know the reason for the delay," the ministry said in a statement, citing Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin. Medinsky said Russia had also handed over to Ukraine the first list of 640 prisoners of war, categorised as "wounded, seriously ill and young people," in order to begin the exchange. Ukraine, in turn, stated that it had also handed over the names for exchange, while Russia's lists did not correspond to the agreed approach as to which prisoners would be prioritised in the exchange. Medinsky earlier on Saturday urged Ukraine to strictly adhere to the schedule and the agreements and to immediately proceed with the exchange. He said that refrigerated trucks carrying more than 1200 bodies of Ukrainian troops from Russia had already reached the agreed exchange site. "We are on site. We are fully prepared to work," he said. "International TV channels, news agencies and correspondents are welcome to come and see for themselves that this is indeed the case." with AP Russian claims that Ukraine is delaying exchange of soldiers' bodies are untrue, Ukrainian officials say, urging the Kremlin to stop "playing dirty games" and return to constructive work. Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky said on Saturday that Ukraine had unexpectedly postponed exchanging prisoners of war and accepting the bodies of killed soldiers for an indefinite period. Russian aircraft on Saturday carried out a new bombing raid on Kharkiv, killing one civilian and injuring more than 40, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called "another brutal murder". Separately, Russian officials said a Ukrainian drone attack in the Moscow region wounded two people. Russia and Ukraine held the second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday where they agreed to exchange more prisoners - focusing on the youngest and most severely wounded - and to return the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers. "Today's statements by the Russian side do not correspond to reality or to previous agreements on either the exchange of prisoners or the repatriation of bodies," Ukraine's state-run Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on Telegram. It said that the agreement on the repatriation of the bodies had indeed been reached but that no date had been agreed upon and that "the Russian side had resorted to unilateral actions" that had not been agreed within the framework of the process. Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday it expected the exchange of prisoners of war and the transfer of the bodies to take place soon. "To date, Kyiv has not given its consent to conduct the humanitarian operations. Representatives of the Ukrainian contact group did not arrive at the meeting place. We do not know the reason for the delay," the ministry said in a statement, citing Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin. Medinsky said Russia had also handed over to Ukraine the first list of 640 prisoners of war, categorised as "wounded, seriously ill and young people," in order to begin the exchange. Ukraine, in turn, stated that it had also handed over the names for exchange, while Russia's lists did not correspond to the agreed approach as to which prisoners would be prioritised in the exchange. Medinsky earlier on Saturday urged Ukraine to strictly adhere to the schedule and the agreements and to immediately proceed with the exchange. He said that refrigerated trucks carrying more than 1200 bodies of Ukrainian troops from Russia had already reached the agreed exchange site. "We are on site. We are fully prepared to work," he said. "International TV channels, news agencies and correspondents are welcome to come and see for themselves that this is indeed the case." with AP Russian claims that Ukraine is delaying exchange of soldiers' bodies are untrue, Ukrainian officials say, urging the Kremlin to stop "playing dirty games" and return to constructive work. Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky said on Saturday that Ukraine had unexpectedly postponed exchanging prisoners of war and accepting the bodies of killed soldiers for an indefinite period. Russian aircraft on Saturday carried out a new bombing raid on Kharkiv, killing one civilian and injuring more than 40, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called "another brutal murder". Separately, Russian officials said a Ukrainian drone attack in the Moscow region wounded two people. Russia and Ukraine held the second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday where they agreed to exchange more prisoners - focusing on the youngest and most severely wounded - and to return the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers. "Today's statements by the Russian side do not correspond to reality or to previous agreements on either the exchange of prisoners or the repatriation of bodies," Ukraine's state-run Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on Telegram. It said that the agreement on the repatriation of the bodies had indeed been reached but that no date had been agreed upon and that "the Russian side had resorted to unilateral actions" that had not been agreed within the framework of the process. Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday it expected the exchange of prisoners of war and the transfer of the bodies to take place soon. "To date, Kyiv has not given its consent to conduct the humanitarian operations. Representatives of the Ukrainian contact group did not arrive at the meeting place. We do not know the reason for the delay," the ministry said in a statement, citing Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin. Medinsky said Russia had also handed over to Ukraine the first list of 640 prisoners of war, categorised as "wounded, seriously ill and young people," in order to begin the exchange. Ukraine, in turn, stated that it had also handed over the names for exchange, while Russia's lists did not correspond to the agreed approach as to which prisoners would be prioritised in the exchange. Medinsky earlier on Saturday urged Ukraine to strictly adhere to the schedule and the agreements and to immediately proceed with the exchange. He said that refrigerated trucks carrying more than 1200 bodies of Ukrainian troops from Russia had already reached the agreed exchange site. "We are on site. We are fully prepared to work," he said. "International TV channels, news agencies and correspondents are welcome to come and see for themselves that this is indeed the case." with AP
Perth Now
14 hours ago
- Perth Now
Ukraine says it is not delaying exchange of bodies
Russian claims that Ukraine is delaying exchange of soldiers' bodies are untrue, Ukrainian officials say, urging the Kremlin to stop "playing dirty games" and return to constructive work. Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky said on Saturday that Ukraine had unexpectedly postponed exchanging prisoners of war and accepting the bodies of killed soldiers for an indefinite period. Russia and Ukraine held the second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday where they agreed to exchange more prisoners - focusing on the youngest and most severely wounded - and to return the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers. "Today's statements by the Russian side do not correspond to reality or to previous agreements on either the exchange of prisoners or the repatriation of bodies," Ukraine's state-run Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on Telegram. It said that the agreement on the repatriation of the bodies had indeed been reached but that no date had been agreed upon and that "the Russian side had resorted to unilateral actions" that had not been agreed within the framework of the process. Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday it expected the exchange of prisoners of war and the transfer of the bodies to take place soon. "To date, Kyiv has not given its consent to conduct the humanitarian operations. Representatives of the Ukrainian contact group did not arrive at the meeting place. We do not know the reason for the delay," the ministry said in a statement, citing Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin. Medinsky said Russia had also handed over to Ukraine the first list of 640 prisoners of war, categorised as "wounded, seriously ill and young people," in order to begin the exchange. Ukraine, in turn, stated that it had also handed over the names for exchange, while Russia's lists did not correspond to the agreed approach as to which prisoners would be prioritised in the exchange. Medinsky earlier on Saturday urged Ukraine to strictly adhere to the schedule and the agreements and to immediately proceed with the exchange. He said that refrigerated trucks carrying more than 1200 bodies of Ukrainian troops from Russia had already reached the agreed exchange site. "We are on site. We are fully prepared to work," he said. "International TV channels, news agencies and correspondents are welcome to come and see for themselves that this is indeed the case." with AP
