In accordance with the principles of international humanitarian law, Russian authorities have released the bodies of 140 Ukrainian soldiers who lost their lives while defending regions such as Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson during the conflict. The disclosure was made by authorities responsible for prisoners of war matters on Friday.
Among the bodies, five were from the Sumy section in northern Ukraine. Despite not having Ukrainian territories under its control in this area, alleged advances by Russian volunteer units from the Sumy region into Russian territory were reported in early March.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War expressed gratitude to the International Committee of the Red Cross for facilitating the repatriation process. Once the identities of the deceased soldiers have been confirmed, they will be handed over to their respective families.
Ukraine has been facing a Russian invasion for over two years. Despite the ongoing conflict, both sides adhere to the practice of regularly exchanging the bodies of fallen soldiers and prisoners of war.
However, it remains unclear whether Russia has received any deceased soldiers in return, and if so, the number thereof.
