Putin’s aide Medinsky announces delay in prisoner exchange, Ukraine calls it pressure
Photo: Vladimir Medinsky, advisor to the Russian president (Getty Images)
The head of the Russian negotiation team, Vladimir Medinsky, claimed on Telegram that Ukraine allegedly postponed the prisoner exchange. This statement is viewed in Kyiv as an attempt to pressure the Ukrainian negotiators, according to a source.
According to Medinsky, the Russian side allegedly delivered 1,212 bodies of deceased Ukrainian soldiers to the exchange area yesterday, with the remaining 6,000 still en route. He also stated that the Russians handed over the first list of 640 wounded, seriously ill, and young prisoners to Ukraine to begin the exchange.
"However, the Ukrainian side unexpectedly postponed indefinitely both the acceptance of the bodies and the prisoner exchange," Medinsky said.
A source from RBC-Ukraine, informed about the exchange preparation process, called Medinsky’s statement about delivering the bodies of the deceased fake.
"First, no repatriation took place yesterday, the Russians are spreading fake information. Second, they are trying to pressure the negotiation team. The exchange is being prepared, and any details could strongly affect this. It is a sensitive issue," the RBC-Ukraine interlocutor said.
Prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia
Recall that during the second round of peace talks in Istanbul, Ukraine and Russia agreed on an exchange of 6,000 bodies of deceased soldiers for 6,000, as well as an exchange of wounded, seriously ill, and young prisoners of war.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the first stage of the exchange could take place as early as this weekend. Russia was ready to hand over 500 people.
However, the Russians are spreading disinformation about the exchange. As RBC-Ukraine’s informed sources explained, Russia is doing this to disrupt the exchange preparation process.
