A planned prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine failed to take place on Saturday, with Moscow accusing Kyiv of delaying the swap at the last minute. The dispute comes as more than 1,200 frozen Ukrainian bodies remain in refrigerated trucks, waiting for collection.
According to Russian officials, including Vladimir Medinsky, head of Russia’s delegation for peace talks with Ukraine, a humanitarian operation was initiated to transfer over 6,000 dead Ukrainian soldiers’ bodies and seriously wounded soldiers under the age of 25. However, Ukraine rejected these claims, stating that the exchange of prisoners and bodies were separate processes.
Ukrainian officials accused Russia of “dirty games” and trying to use sensitive humanitarian issues for propaganda purposes. They also stated that they had not agreed to a specific date for the repatriation of soldiers’ bodies and that the delay was a result of Russia’s last-minute actions.
The dispute comes as both sides continue to engage in peace talks, with Russia agreeing to exchange more prisoners this weekend. The failed prisoner exchange highlights the lack of trust between the two countries, which has so far marred the negotiations.
In a related development, Russia launched another aerial assault on Ukraine, killing three people in the city of Kharkiv. The situation remains tense, with both sides accusing each other of delaying or disrupting the planned prisoner exchange.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/07/europe/russia-ukraine-prisoner-swap-bodies-delay-intl