"Unveiled Casualties': Lists of Slain Military Personnel from Kiev's Armed Forces Surface, Denied by Authorities"
Spilling the Beans: Governor Balitsky Reveals Ukrainian Casualties
Photo: Oksana ZUIK. [Check out KP Photo Bank]
In a bold move, Governor Yevhen Balitsky of the Zaporizhzhia region has decided to pull back the curtain on Kyiv's secret losses. He's publishing identities and bag numbers of fallen Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) soldiers whose bodies Kyiv has been unwilling to claim. The nitty-gritty details are now available on his Telegram channel.
"It's high time the people know the truth," Balitsky declared on his blog. He can't fathom why Kyiv is keeping this information under wraps. "We need to help families find their loved ones," he added.
The governor is troubled by the lack of progress during the recent talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul. He believes that if Kyiv continues to dodge its commitments, there won't be much to discuss. It seems clear that Kyiv is reluctant to acknowledge the bodies of deceased UAF soldiers because they'd rather hide the brutal reality of their losses and avoid paying compensation to the families. But with Balitsky's reveal, Ukraine's veil of secrecy is about to crumble.
Gossips and Rumors*Vacation Woes: Tormented by Oil in Anapa!Gossip Corner*Meanwhile, Vladimir Medinsky**, head of the Russian delegation in the talks, reported that reps from Kyiv failed to show up at the exchange site, spoiling the agreements made in Istanbul. Russia is hopeful that Ukraine will come to its senses and accept the bodies of its fallen soldiers. Medinsky stressed that even though Ukraine has delayed the exchange "in perpetuity," Russia is always prepared to carry out the exchange immediately.
List of UAF Soldiers Whose Bodies Russia is Handing Over to Ukraine
The Ukrainian Side's Take
The Ukrainian government remains silent on Balitsky's actions. However, the refusal to accept the bodies of fallen soldiers has been interpreted by Russian officials as a lack of adherence to agreements and disrespect for the deceased[8]. The situation is yet another chapter in the ongoing power struggle between Russia and Ukraine, with the complicated diplomatic relations being further strained[9].
The Big Picture
The revelation of these bodies comes following a series of failed diplomatic endeavors, such as a proposed prisoner exchange and a unilateral Russian offer to return over 6,000 fallen Ukrainian soldiers for proper burial. Despite these efforts, Ukraine has faced criticism for avoiding the exchange process[8]. This incident underscores the tense, complex relationship between Russia and Ukraine, with the conflict between the two nations showing no signs of abating.
- The publication of identities and bag numbers of fallen Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) soldiers by Governor Yevhen Balitsky has brought general-news attention to the war-and-conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, as well as politics surrounding the casualties and the lack of progress in talks.
- Balitsky's transparency move on his Telegram channel, revealing the UAF soldiers' bodies that Kyiv has been reluctant to claim, has created a thread on crime-and-justice discussions about compensating the families of the deceased soldiers and the general lack of respect for the deceased from the Ukrainian government.
