Russia Hands Over Bodies of Ukrainian Prisoners of War
The bodies of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POW) who died in a plane crash over Russia‘s Belgorod Oblast in January have been transferred to Ukraine, Russian Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova claimed.
A Russian Il-76 military cargo plane crashed on January 24. Moscow said that 65 Ukrainian POWs were on board the plane at the time of the crash, but Ukraine has not confirmed this claim.
The latest exchange included several bodies handed over by Russia to Ukraine. However, efforts to identify them are still underway. “During the latest repatriation activities, the remains of the deceased were transferred to Ukraine from (Russia), but they require additional identification,” a Ukrainian spokesperson said.
This is not the first time Ukraine has requested the transfer of bodies. In late November, Ukraine received 502 fallen soldiers in an exchange with Russia.
The cause of the plane crash is still unclear. Undisclosed U.S. officials suggested that the U.S.-made Patriot missile system was likely responsible for the downing of the plane.
The U.S. Secretary of Defense estimated that Russia has spent at least $200 billion on its war with Ukraine since 2022.