Russia returns bodies of 210 Ukrainian fighters to Kyiv

Russia has handed over to Kyiv the bodies of 210 Ukrainian fighters, most of whom who died defending the city of Mariupol from Russian forces at a vast steel works, the Ukrainian military said on Tuesday.

Ukrainians were holed up in the Azovstal steelworks for weeks as Russia tried to capture the city. The Ukrainian soldiers eventually surrendered last month and were taken into custody by Russia.

“The process of returning the bodies of the fallen defenders of Mariupol is under way. To date, 210 of our troops have been returned — most of them are heroic defenders of Azovstal,” Ukraine’s defence intelligence directorate said on Twitter.

There has been little information about the fate of the estimated 2,000 Azovstal defenders. Kyiv is seeking the handover of all in a prisoner swap, but some Russian lawmakers want some of the soldiers put on trial.

“Work continues on bringing home all of the captured Ukrainian defenders,” said the directorate.

Ukraine denies that, saying the unit has been reformed and integrated into its armed forces and is outside politics.