Kiev [Ukraine], September 19: Moscow has handed over more soldiers' remains to Ukraine, officials said on Thursday, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed advances against Russian forces on the eastern front line.
Kiev received 1,000 fallen soldiers, according to the staff responsible for prisoner of war affairs. The handover was mediated by the International Red Cross. Russian military bloggers wrote that Moscow received the remains of 24 soldiers in return, although this figure has not been officially confirmed.
Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian invasion for more than three and a half years. Since the beginning of the year, Kiev has received over 13,000 soldiers' remains from the Russian side.
The news of the handover came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised what he said were major successes by his troops in the war.
During a counter-offensive north-west of the city of Pokrovsk, about 160 square kilometres and seven villages were recaptured and a further 170 square kilometres were "cleared of the enemy," Zelensky said during a visit to near the front line.
In addition, around 100 Russian soldiers were captured. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune