Russia offers to return 6,000 fallen Ukrainian soldiers in gesture of "humanity"

Russia has offered to return the bodies of more than 6,000 deceased Ukrainian soldiers as a humanitarian gesture, according to Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation and aide to President Vladimir Putin.

Speaking on June 2, Medinsky said Moscow had made the proposal “out of humanity”, so that Ukrainian families could “give their loved ones a proper Christian burial,” Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“We proposed returning the bodies to the Ukrainian side out of compassion — so that families and relatives can bury them with dignity, in accordance with Christian traditions,” he said.

Medinsky noted that the majority of the deceased had been identified. However, he admitted he had no precise information on how many Russian soldiers’ bodies are currently held by Ukraine.

The announcement followed the second round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, held earlier that day in Istanbul. According to a source cited by Izvestia, the talks lasted over an hour and were conducted in Russian. The same source said that both sides discussed the possibility of prisoner exchanges in detail.

Note that, on June 2, 2025, Russian and Ukrainian delegations convened in Istanbul for a second round of peace talks aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict. Despite initial hopes, the discussions concluded in under two hours without achieving a ceasefire agreement. The only tangible outcome was a mutual agreement to exchange prisoners of war (PoWs) and repatriate the remains of fallen soldiers. 

Ukraine proposed a 30-day ceasefire, supported by the United States, to de-escalate hostilities and pave the way for a comprehensive peace agreement. However, Russia rejected this proposal, offering instead a limited three-day ceasefire solely to facilitate the PoW exchange. Moscow reiterated its demands for Ukraine's demilitarization and the annexation of Russian-occupied territories as prerequisites for a broader truce. 

A significant point of contention was Ukraine's call for the return of approximately 400 children allegedly abducted during the conflict. Russia dismissed this appeal, agreeing to discuss the return of only ten children. 

The talks occurred amid escalating military actions. Ukraine's recent Operation Spider's Web targeted Russian airbases, reportedly damaging or destroying 41 aircraft. In response, Russia launched its largest missile and drone offensive to date. 

Looking ahead, Turkish President Erdoğan is exploring the possibility of hosting a high-level summit involving Presidents Zelenskyy, Putin, and U.S. President Donald Trump. Ukraine has suggested further talks between 20 and 30 June, emphasizing the need for direct discussions between the two leaders to resolve key issues.

By Aghakazim Guliyev