Ukraine brings back bodies of 1,200 citizens
The bodies of 1,200 people have been brought back to Ukraine as part of repatriation efforts. Russia claims that they are all Ukrainian citizens. Ukrainian law enforcement agencies will carry out the identification of the remains shortly.
Source: Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War
Details: The Russian side claims that the bodies belong to Ukrainian citizens, particularly military personnel. The repatriation took place in accordance with the agreements reached in Istanbul.
Ukrainian law enforcement investigators, together with specialist agencies from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, will conduct all necessary examinations and identify the repatriated bodies.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine will transport the repatriated bodies to designated state institutions, where they will be handed over to the Ministry of Internal Affairs officials and sent for forensic examination under the Ministry of Health.
Workers of Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War
The repatriation of the remains was made possible through the joint efforts of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the joint centre under the Security Service of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Office of the Parliamentary Human Rights Commissioner, the Secretariat of the Commissioner for Missing Persons under Special Circumstances, the State Emergency Service and other bodies within Ukraine's security and defence sector, with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Workers of Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War
Background:
Following a meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul on Monday 2 June, the parties have reached an agreement on the six thousands-for-six thousands exchange of bodies of fallen soldiers. Delegations also agreed to an all-for-all exchange of seriously wounded and young soldiers aged 18 to 25.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that out of the 6,000 bodies of soldiers that Russia wants to hand over to Ukraine, only 15% have been identified.
On Friday 6 June, Russia claimed that repatriation efforts had begun, later asserting that "Ukraine refused to retrieve the bodies of its citizens". Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War emphasised that Russia was manipulating a sensitive issue, adding that preparations for the exchange were ongoing.
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