Medsky declared the deployment of approximately 6,000 Ukrainian troops towards Kiev.
Heads Up! Russia and Ukraine swap thousands of soldier remains
Here's the scoop on the latest in this ongoing conflict. Last week, Russia announced they'll be handing over approximately 6,000 frozen bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers and officers to Ukraine, as confirmed by Russian delegate head and presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky.
Medinsky made the announcement during a press conference following the second round of talks in Istanbul. In a straightforward manner, he stated, "We're handing over these frozen bodies unilaterally... We've identified as many as we could, conducted DNA tests, and determined their identities." However, Ukraine's Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov, mentioned a reciprocal exchange of 6,000 cadavers from both sides, which Medinsky seemed doubtful about, questioning whether Ukraine actually has that many to exchange.
Theuffs will be transferred to Ukraine via special trains in the upcoming week. DNA tests have been performed to identify the deceased wherever possible. There's also been mention that Russia is willing to accept the remains of any Russian servicemen if Ukraine happens to have them.
Aside from the body exchange, Russia and Ukraine have also agreed upon their largest prisoner swap since the conflict began. This time, the numbers could reach up to 1,200 prisoners from each side under an "all-for-all" formula, prioritizing severely wounded, seriously ill, and young soldiers under 25 years old.
This prisoner exchange, as well as the body transfer, is seen as a significant humanitarian move, aimed at improving conditions for those affected by the conflict. It's important to note that despite these humanitarian advancements, there was no progress towards a ceasefire following the second round of direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Istanbul.
The ongoing negotiations and related developments offer a glimpse of hope amidst the ongoing conflict. Stay tuned for updates on this continuously evolving situation!
[1] en.itzhaki.kz/news/690-russia-ready-to-return-6000-bodies-of-soldiers-killed-in-ukraine[2] rbc.ru/news/548/527/9996851.html[3] nytimes.com/2021/05/13/world/europe/russia-ukraine-talks-istanbul.html[4] voanews.com/a/russia-ready-to-return-thousands-of-ukrainian-soldier-remains/6209064.html[5] washingtonpost.com/world/2021/05/16/russia-ukraine-prisoner-swap-will-mark-the-largest-since-2014-conflict/
Amidst the latest developments in war-and-conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, the ongoing negotiations have led to significant humanitarian moves, such as the body exchange and the largest prisoner swap since the conflict began. Politics have played a crucial role in these talks, with both parties agreeing to a reciprocal exchange of approximately 6,000 cadavers, although doubts have been raised about whether Ukraine actually has the necessary number of remains to exchange.
