Russia claims 6,000-for-6,000 body exchange has begun: Ukraine rejects misinformation
Illustrative photo: Ukraine and Russia have not started the 6,000 for 6,000 body exchange (Getty Images)
Russia claims that a body exchange with Ukraine in the 6,000 for 6,000 format has already begun. This turned out to be false, according to Vladimir Rogov, head of the commission of Russia’s Public Chamber, and the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War of Ukraine.
Russian disinformation
Rogov claimed that Russia had allegedly recovered the bodies of 42 killed soldiers.
"In response, as part of the first stage of transferring 6,000 bodies, 503 bodies of Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen were handed over to the other side," he added.
He later went on to claim, without evidence, that Ukraine had supposedly refused to accept the 503 fallen soldiers’ bodies, which were "delivered to Belarus."
What the Coordination Headquarters say
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War emphasized that the Russian claims about the start of a body exchange for fallen soldiers are not true.
"Preparations are ongoing for the exchange of seriously ill and severely wounded prisoners, young people, and the return of the bodies of fallen defenders," the headquarters added.
They also pointed out that any unilateral statements by Russia on such a sensitive topic are just another manipulation.
The Coordination Headquarters stated that they are ready for any repatriation measures and prisoner exchanges.
Body exchange 6,000 for 6,000
During talks in Istanbul, Ukraine and Russia agreed to exchange the bodies of fallen soldiers in a 6,000 for 6,000 format.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that preparations for the body exchange would begin after the planned prisoner swap scheduled for this weekend.
