KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Russia returned the bodies of 501 soldiers to Ukraine on Friday, Ukrainian authorities announced. This is believed to be the largest repatriation of war dead since the end of the war. Russia’s full-scale invasion In February 2022.
Most of the soldiers died in fighting in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, mainly around the city of Donetsk. Avdiivka Ukraine’s Prisoner of War Coordination Center said in a statement that Russian forces captured it in February after a long and grueling battle.
Law enforcement and forensic experts will identify the victims, who will then be handed over to their families for burial, the paper said.
Tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides are believed to have died in the war, but there are no official or independent tallies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy this week Revealed part of his so-called “victory plan” The aim was to force Russia to end the war through negotiations.
The proposal is being considered by Ukraine’s Western partners, whose cooperation is essential for Kiev to resist its larger neighbor. The important elements are: Official invitation to NATOWestern backers were reluctant to consider it until after the war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin On Friday, Moscow said it was ready to enter into negotiations. He welcomed peace proposals previously submitted by China and Brazil, saying they “could be a good basis for seeking peace.” These proposals failed to persuade Kiev.
He spoke at a meeting with media leaders from various countries. BRICS area of developing countriesPutin denied any concessions regarding the status of the four Ukrainian regions that the Russian government illegally annexed in September 2022, saying: “They are our territory.” That would be unacceptable to Ukraine.
joe us president Biden met in Berlin on Friday. He spoke with some European leaders and said Ukraine’s Western allies must continue their support for Kiev.
President Zelenskiy said Russia receives support from China, Iran and North Korea.
South Korea’s intelligence agency announced on Friday. North Korea dispatched troops This is to support Russia in the war against Ukraine.
Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Kirillo Budanov was quoted as saying that 11,000 North Korean troops are currently training in Russia to take part in the fight against Ukraine.
Budanov told defense news website The War Zone on Thursday that the first 2,600 North Korean soldiers were preparing. Reinforce Russian troops in Kurska Russian border region where the Ukrainian invasion has held territory since early August.
Fighting continues unabated as world leaders debate next steps.
Russia launched 135 Shahid drones and other unidentified drones across Ukraine on Thursday night, making it one of the largest single drone barrages of the war, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
The Air Force said most of the drones were intercepted. There were no official announcements regarding casualties or damage.
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