Fact Check: Vladimir Medinsky, the chief Russian negotiator, stated that the number of deceased Russian soldiers handed over to Moscow stands at 78.

Fact Check: "Vladimir Medinsky, the chief Russian negotiator, stated that the number of deceased Russian soldiers handed over to Moscow stands at 78."

What We Know

Vladimir Medinsky, who serves as the chief negotiator for Russia in talks with Ukraine, confirmed that Russia has received the bodies of 78 Russian soldiers from Ukraine. This statement was made during discussions surrounding the humanitarian agreements reached in Istanbul, where it was agreed that Russia would return the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers while receiving the remains of its own soldiers in return. Medinsky stated, "According to Medinsky, Russia has received 78 bodies of Russian soldiers from the Ukrainian side" (TASS, The Statesman, China Daily).

Additionally, Medinsky reported that Russia has fulfilled its obligations under these agreements by transferring 6,060 bodies of Ukrainian servicemen to Ukraine (TASS, Xinhua). The exchanges of bodies and prisoners are ongoing, with arrangements also made for the transfer of severely wounded servicemen (TASS).

Analysis

The claim that Medinsky stated the number of deceased Russian soldiers handed over to Moscow stands at 78 is corroborated by multiple reliable sources. TASS, a state-owned news agency, and other international outlets such as Xinhua and The Statesman, all report the same figure and context, indicating a consistent narrative across different platforms (TASS, The Statesman, China Daily).

The credibility of TASS as a source is somewhat mixed due to its state affiliation, which can introduce potential bias in reporting. However, the information is also supported by independent sources like Xinhua, which adds a layer of reliability to the claim. The fact that multiple reputable news organizations reported the same statement from Medinsky reinforces the claim's validity.

Moreover, the context of the statement is important. It is part of ongoing negotiations and humanitarian exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, which have been documented and reported extensively in the media (TASS, Yahoo News).

While there may be skepticism regarding the accuracy of casualty figures in wartime reporting, the specific claim regarding the 78 bodies has been consistently reported and is backed by official statements from the Russian government.

Conclusion

The claim that "Vladimir Medinsky, the chief Russian negotiator, stated that the number of deceased Russian soldiers handed over to Moscow stands at 78" is True. This conclusion is based on multiple corroborating reports from reliable sources, including statements made by Medinsky himself, and the consistency of the information across various media outlets.

Sources

1. Russia honors its commitments, transfers 6060 bodies to ...
2. Russia transfers bodies of over 6000 soldiers to Ukraine
3. Russia transfers bodies of over 6000 soldiers to Ukraine
4. Russia, Ukraine continue exchanges of prisoners of war
5. Ukraine says repatriation of war dead over after ...
6. Russia returns 1212 fallen Ukrainian soldiers, gets 27 ...
7. What is known about repatriation of fallen troops' remains ...
8. Russia has received 78 bodies of dead soldiers from Ukraine