Zelenskyy: Russia handed over bodies of 20 of its soldiers to Ukraine to replace fallen Ukrainian soldiers

Russia has handed over the bodies of 20 of its soldiers to Ukraine to replace the fallen Ukrainian military. Photo: AP

Russia has handed over to Ukraine the bodies of 20 of its soldiers to replace the fallen Ukrainian military during repatriation.

This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a conversation with journalists.

He noted that some of them had Russian passports, and even a citizen of another state.

«It has already been recorded during the repatriations that the bodies of 20 people handed over to us as our fallen soldiers are Russian. For example, there is an Israeli mercenary who fought on their side. He is an Israeli citizen. With Israeli documents. Although they told us that they were only Ukrainians and only military. But this is a lie that has already been recorded,» Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Russia handed over the bodies of 20 of its soldiers to Ukraine to replace the fallen Ukrainian military. Photo: Office of the President

He emphasised that Kyiv definitely wants to return the bodies of all Ukrainian soldiers, but it definitely does not want to return Russian just for the sake.

«We definitely want to return all our soldiers and the bodies of our heroes. But we definitely don't want to return Russian just for the sake of numbers,» Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a meeting with journalists. Photo: Office of the President

When asked how the Russian side was reacting to this, he replied: «No way. They say it can't be». However, Ukraine does not believe that this is an accident, according to the publication «Babel».

According to the president, Russia will try to prove that not as many Russians died as in reality.

«Because if there comes a time when Putin wants to mobilise someone, his society will be afraid. But if we show that there are a hundred dead Ukrainians for every one soldier, it doesn't look so scary,» the head of state said.

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Zelenskyy is convinced that Russia is using such exchanges to create the appearance of its openness to agreements for Donald Trump and thus «tear the United States away from Ukraine».

«If several more meetings take place, the Russians will demonstrate to the US that the diplomatic process is ongoing, and sanctions will be postponed. And while the exchanges are going on, the meetings at the level of leaders will be postponed. Because it is definitely not profitable for them,» the president concluded.

As a reminder, the bodies of 1200 fallen soldiers have been returned to Ukraine. The repatriation took place in accordance with the agreements reached in Istanbul.