This comes nearly two months after a faulty software update from cybersecurity services provider CrowdStrike affected nearly 8.5 million Windows devices
world2 days ago
Kyiv said on Friday the bodies of 77 soldiers had been returned to Ukraine, days after the downing of a Russian military plane threw doubt on the future of such exchanges.
It came as Moscow and Kyiv traded fresh accusations over a plane crash Russia says happened after it was shot down near the border with Ukraine, killing 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war.
While Kyiv has not outright denied Russia's claims, officials have appeared to question whether its POWs were really on board.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
This latest repatriation of bodies appeared unrelated to the downing of the plane, which crashed in a fireball in Russia's western Belgorod region on Wednesday.
"Preparations for the repatriation had been underway for a long time," Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said in a statement.
Hundreds of captured prisoners of war have been freed in dozens of exchanges throughout the near two-year war.
But Russia's claims that Ukraine shot down a plane ferrying its own POWs had thrown doubts on the future of such exchanges and repatriations.
On Friday, Ukraine was still disputing Russia's account of the crash of the Ilyushin 76 military transport plane.
ALSO READ:
The Kremlin dismissed the idea of releasing evidence proving that dozens of Ukrainian soldiers had been killed.
"Investigators are working, I have nothing to add on this topic," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked if Russia planned to publish evidence showing Ukraine shot down the plane, and who — or what — was on board.
On Thursday, Russia's Investigative Committee published video footage of what it said was the crash site. It showed a small chunk of plane debris and blurred close-ups of a body.
On Friday, Ukraine's human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets dismissed the material released so far by Moscow as "elements of an information propaganda campaign against Ukraine".
Both Kyiv and Moscow have opened criminal investigations, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for an international investigation.
On Wednesday, he accused Moscow of "playing with the lives" of Ukrainian soldiers and their families.
Kyiv has not confirmed or denied its involvement in the plane crash or said whether it was carrying its captured soldiers.
It confirmed that a prisoner exchange was due to take place later that day. But it said Moscow had not informed Kyiv that the soldiers would be transported to the border by plane, as it had done in the past.
Ukraine's army vowed to "continue" targeting Russia's military operations in the border area where the plane was downed, in a statement published hours after the incident.
This comes nearly two months after a faulty software update from cybersecurity services provider CrowdStrike affected nearly 8.5 million Windows devices
world2 days ago
More than three-quarters of children globally still have no coverage: ILO report
world2 days ago
I will become a pilot, and I will play soccer with my friends, says nine-year-old Ajjour
world2 days ago
Many Palestinians head to Beit Lahia to get this cheap fuel, braving clashes between Hamas militants and Israeli forces and widespread Israeli airstrikes
world2 days ago
British Prime Minister promises 'the biggest reimagining' of the NHS since it was founded 76 years ago
world2 days ago
Talks have so far failed to reach a deal to end the 11-month-old war
world2 days ago
Women take on more jobs traditionally filled by men
world2 days ago
The Tokyo-based startup aims to follow the success of US-based Intuitive Machines, which in February made the world's first private moon landing
world2 days ago