Russia said on Sunday that Ukraine rejected its proposal to conduct a humanitarian operation to retrieve the bodies of fallen Ukrainian servicemen from the front-line town of Kostiantynivka.
The ministry said in a statement it proposed on Friday that, once Russian forces establish full control over the town and fighting ends, the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers remaining there could be handed over for burial.
“During the elaboration of this issue through intelligence services, the Ukrainian side rejected this proposal,” the statement read.
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The ministry emphasised that Kiev “did absolutely nothing to ensure that the bodies of fallen Ukrainian servicemen can be buried with dignity by their relatives” and that the Ukrainian authorities treat their fallen soldiers as “expendable material.”
Ukraine did not immediately comment on Russia’s latest statement.
