- MOSCOW — Russia has delivered the first batch of 1,212 bodies of Ukrainian
soldiers to the border exchange point pursuant to the Istanbul accords, said Lieutenant
General Alexander Zorin.
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- Zorin, also a representative of the Russian negotiating
group, said that Ukraine has not made contact, therefore the transfer of the
bodies and the exchange of prisoners did not take place yet, Xinhua news agency
reported.
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- Some foreign media representatives waiting at the agreed
upon place of exchange have checked some of the refrigerated trucks
transporting the bodies.
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- Zorin said that trains with more bodies of Ukrainian
servicemen will start moving towards the border, adding that Russia is awaiting
Kyiv's official confirmation for transferring Ukrainian soldiers' bodies next
week.
Read: Ukrainian Mayor says Kharkiv under fiercest Russian attack
- This occurred amid an ongoing spat over a prisoner swap
between the two sides. Russia on Saturday accused Ukraine of postponing a scheduled
prisoner exchange over the weekend, while Ukraine denied the accusation and
urged Russia to stop playing "dirty games."
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- Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of
Prisoners of War claimed Saturday that although both Ukraine and Russia have
reached a consensus on the exchange of the remains of fallen soldiers, they
have not agreed on the date of the exchange.
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- During the talks between the two sides in Istanbul on
Monday, Moscow agreed to return Ukraine 6,000 bodies of fallen soldiers.
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- The trade of allegations comes amid escalating military
actions on both sides, raising concerns over the prospects for renewed peace
talks, analysts have noted.
