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Russia Mixed Own Soldiers’ Remains With Ukrainian Defenders in Latest Repatriation Effort
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Russia has mixed the remains of its own dead soldiers with the bodies of fallen Ukrainian defenders during a recent repatriation effort under the new transfer procedure.
This was reported by Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs on July 17.
In cooperation with the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense and the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the Ministry released photos and information about individuals whom Russia attempted to pass off as Ukrainian soldiers, as part of the "I Want to Live" project .
Additionally, elements of military uniforms and other signs indicating that the bodies belonged to Russian servicemen were found.
Relatives of deceased Russian soldiers who recognized the remains or suspect that their family members might be among them are invited to contact the International Commission on Missing Persons.
“Ukraine, for its part, documents all such cases, adheres to international norms, and acts solely on humanitarian grounds,” the Ministry stated.
This is not the first time Russia has sent back the bodies of its own soldiers mixed in with those of Ukrainian defenders. Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko reported that Russia continues to return the bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers in severely mutilated condition—and during the latest repatriation efforts, the remains of Russian troops were again found among those transferred.
“During the latest repatriations, we were also handed the bodies of Russian soldiers — mixed in with the bodies of Ukrainians. This may have been done deliberately by the Russian side to inflate the number of transferred remains and overburden our forensic experts, while also applying cynical informational pressure. Or it may simply reflect their habitual disregard for their own people. In any case, we will identify these bodies as well,” Klymenko stated.
Earlier, Ukraine received the bodies of 1,000 fallen service members. In exchange, Russia retrieved the remains of 19 of its own soldiers, according to Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky.
Medinsky confirmed that this transfer is part of a broader agreement reached during negotiations in Istanbul, under which Russia committed to returning around 6,000 bodies of Ukrainian defenders.
