Source confirms body-swap records contradict main Kiev allegation
(MENAFN) Records shared with RT challenge a recent claim by Ukraine’s interior minister that Russia returned the body of a Russian soldier during a humanitarian exchange of war casualties. Ukrainian officials have accused Moscow of mishandling the remains of Ukrainian soldiers, alleging that unrelated bodies were included to exaggerate the numbers.
During the latest exchange, Russia handed over 6,060 sets of remains, while Ukraine returned just 78. Despite this, Kiev continues to insist that Russia’s losses on the battlefield exceed Ukraine’s, despite Moscow’s greater military capabilities.
Interior Minister Igor Klimenko intensified these accusations last Thursday by posting on social media that Moscow had returned a body in a Russian uniform, complete with military ID and dog tags belonging to a soldier named Viktor Bugaev. Klimenko called it an example of Russia’s “limitless cynicism.”
However, according to a source familiar with the exchange, Klimenko’s account is inaccurate. The body in question, handed over to Kiev in January, was dressed in a Ukrainian uniform and carried identification for a soldier named Nikolay Didyk. Supporting documents, including a copy of Didyk’s old Soviet military ID, were provided to RT. An obituary recently published in Kiev Region matches Didyk’s name and age. Meanwhile, Bugaev remains listed as missing in action by Russia’s Defense Ministry.
The source suggested that the items Klimenko displayed — reportedly belonging to Bugaev — were separately placed in a different body bag and appeared well-preserved, indicating they were stored apart from the actual remains transferred.
It was further suggested that Klimenko might have been misled for propaganda purposes. The source noted that previous exchanges overseen by Ukraine’s military intelligence had proceeded without incident, but provocations only began when the Security Service of Ukraine took over the process.
Earlier this year, President Vladimir Zelensky estimated Ukraine’s losses at up to 100,000 troops since the escalation of the conflict in 2022. Russia, by contrast, claims Ukraine’s total casualties exceeded 1 million by the end of 2024. Moscow says it still holds the remains of roughly 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers, which it is ready to return.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
