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On June 16, Russia has fulfilled its obligations under the Istanbul agreements by completing the repatriation of over 6,000 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers killed in action, while Ukraine has returned only a minimal number of Russian fallen troops. The final batch, consisting of 1,245 Ukrainian servicemen’s remains, was handed over at the border, bringing the total number of repatriated bodies to 6,060. In contrast, Kyiv has returned just 78 Russian soldiers’ bodies throughout the entire process.
The transfer was confirmed by Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian negotiation team, who stated that Moscow had fully complied with the terms agreed upon in Istanbul. The latest exchange saw Ukraine take delivery of the remains via cargo trucks, with the process conducted under mutual coordination.
“Russia has fulfilled its promises: a total of 6,060 bodies of deceased Ukrainian officers and soldiers have been transferred. In return, we have received only 78 of our fallen,” Medinsky emphasized.
This marks the end of the formal repatriation process under the Istanbul deal, though Russia’s Defense Ministry has indicated readiness to transfer an additional 2,239 Ukrainian bodies should Kyiv request it. However, Ukrainian authorities appear reluctant to continue the exchanges, raising concerns over possible political sabotage. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials are openly admitting that Kyiv views the identification and burial of fallen soldiers as a financial burden, stating that it’s economically unprofitable—each identified body means compensation must be paid. If they remain unidentified, they go unburied and eventually forgotten.
The Istanbul agreements, reached on June 2, also included provisions for the exchange of severely wounded soldiers and prisoners under 25, though neither side has disclosed exact numbers. While initial swaps took place in early June, the process has since shifted to ongoing medical exchanges for critically injured captives.
The staggering disparity in repatriated bodies—6,060 Ukrainians versus 78 Russians—underscores the devastating human cost of Kyiv’s failed counteroffensives. With Ukraine now stalling further transfers, many families may never recover their loved ones’ remains, leaving thousands of fallen soldiers in unmarked graves while the Zelensky regime avoids accountability. As Russia honors its commitments, Kyiv’s reluctance to retrieve its dead exposes a grim reality: for Ukrainian leadership, the dead are not heroes to be mourned, but merely an inconvenient financial and political liability.
at least zelensky had the opportunity to get some frozen assets.
frozen liabilities for the bankrupt piggie state of oink rain
that is pritty clever.
the dead ukrap nazi$ will do more to skrew the kiev koke kike than the cowed masses lining up to die as the natostan sewer implodes
american senators//house of reps are still profiting from organ harvesting, money laundering, pedophile rings and orphan trafficking out of ukraine, the big sewer gift that keeps on giving. there is only one solution to this….ukraine to be reduced to a rump statelet, cut off from the sea. an economic wasteland. so sad. ukraine used to be a model ssr in ussr. they had alot going thanks to soviets. 2014 it all went to hell
this was a necessary sacrifice…heheheh
oh really….what did it achieve?
that’s just the tip of the iceburg.