Russia is accusing Ukraine of indefinitely postponing a planned exchange of bodies of deceased soldiers and prisoners of war. Vladimir Medinsky, Aide to the President and head of the Russian negotiating team, stated that Ukrainian representatives failed to arrive at the designated exchange point, citing “varied and quite strange” reasons.

According to Medinsky, Russia had prepared for the exchange in accordance with the Istanbul agreements, initiating a humanitarian action to transfer 6,000 bodies of deceased Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen and exchange wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war under the age of 25. Russia is urging Kyiv to adhere to the agreed-upon schedule and immediately commence the exchange.

The first batch of 1,212 frozen bodies of Ukrainian soldiers has reportedly arrived in refrigerators at the exchange area, with the remainder en route. Russia also provided a list of 640 Ukrainian prisoners of war, classified as “wounded, seriously ill, and young people,” to facilitate the exchange.

Medinsky emphasized the agreed-upon exchange of 1,200 soldiers and officers from each side, allowing them to return home. He appealed to Ukraine to accept the bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers and officers for proper burial.

The exchange of prisoners, a ceasefire, a potential meeting between the presidents of both countries, and the exchange of memoranda on conflict resolution were discussed at the Istanbul meeting between Russia and Ukraine.