Fact Check: Russia returned at least 20 bodies of its own soldiers as Ukrainian casualties.

Fact Check: "Russia returned at least 20 bodies of its own soldiers as Ukrainian casualties"

What We Know

Recent statements from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicate that during recent exchanges of war dead, Ukraine received at least 20 bodies of Russian soldiers that Russia had initially claimed were Ukrainian casualties. Zelenskyy described this as indicative of Russia's disorganization in handling the repatriation of soldiers' remains (AP News). He noted that some of these bodies even had Russian passports, further substantiating the claim that they were indeed Russian soldiers (BBC).

In a broader context, the exchanges of dead bodies have been part of a deal between Russia and Ukraine, which has seen significant numbers of bodies exchanged in recent months. For instance, Ukraine reported receiving 1,245 bodies in a recent exchange, while Russia claimed to have received 78 bodies of its own soldiers (BBC).

Analysis

The claim that Russia returned at least 20 bodies of its own soldiers disguised as Ukrainian casualties is supported by multiple credible sources. Zelenskyy's comments have been reported consistently across various news outlets, including the Associated Press and BBC, both of which are recognized for their journalistic integrity. The assertion that some of the bodies had Russian passports adds a layer of credibility to the claim, as it provides tangible evidence of the soldiers' identities (AP News, BBC).

However, it is important to note that the identification process of the bodies has been complicated, with Ukrainian officials accusing Russia of deliberately making it difficult to verify the identities of the deceased (BBC). This raises questions about the reliability of the numbers provided by both sides, as trust is extremely low in the context of this conflict. Nonetheless, the consistent reports from multiple reputable sources lend significant weight to the claim that at least 20 of the bodies returned were indeed Russian soldiers.

Conclusion

The claim that Russia returned at least 20 bodies of its own soldiers as Ukrainian casualties is True. The evidence presented by President Zelenskyy, corroborated by multiple reputable news sources, indicates that these bodies were misidentified by Russia during the repatriation process. The presence of Russian passports on some of the bodies further substantiates this claim, despite the challenges in verifying identities due to the chaotic nature of the exchanges.

Fact Check: Russia returned at least 20 bodies of its own soldiers as Ukrainian casualties.