By Newspot Nigeria Global desk
🇺🇦 KYIV, Ukraine — In a sharp rebuke of Moscow’s wartime conduct, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that at least 20 Russian soldiers’ bodies were repatriated to Ukraine during recent exchanges, despite Russia’s claim they were Ukrainian. Zelenskyy described the development as evidence of Russia’s chaotic approach to war and lack of regard for its own troops.
Addressing journalists Friday — with the remarks released Saturday — Zelenskyy shared that Ukrainian officials were handed Russian corpses, some still carrying passports and personal identification. “They threw the corpses of their citizens at us. This is their attitude toward war, toward their soldiers. And this is already documented,” he stated.
An Israeli citizen was also among the remains Ukraine received. Identities of the deceased have not yet been officially disclosed.
The return of the dead took place under the 6,000-for-6,000 framework agreed upon in earlier Istanbul negotiations. Zelenskyy expressed concerns over the high number and the lack of time for proper forensic checks, adding that the talks may be a tactic by Vladimir Putin to avoid further sanctions while continuing the war.
The Ukrainian president emphasized that Russia’s cooperation with Iran and North Korea has worsened the conflict. “Iran gave the Russians everything to kill us — martyrs, missiles, licenses,” he said, noting that although Israeli strikes may have weakened Iran’s production capacities, “at certain points it may already be too late.”
Zelenskyy raised alarms over a new missile Russia has deployed — the Oreshnik, an intermediate-range ballistic missile believed capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Thirty-nine Russian firms are involved in its production, with 21 still unsanctioned. He called for urgent international sanctions on these companies.
In related developments:
- Zelenskyy dismissed reports that Patriot defense systems had been destroyed by Russian drone barrages.
- Ukraine has begun deploying locally made interceptors against Iranian-made Shahed drones, seeking German funding to scale up production.
- He proposed that Western partners commit 0.25% of their GDP to support Ukraine’s defense industry.
Looking ahead, Zelenskyy said he may attend the upcoming NATO summit, with a final decision due Monday. Although he did not meet President Trump at the recent G7 summit in Canada, Ukraine’s representatives handed U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent a list of requested weapons — including more Patriot systems.
He confirmed that these requests, along with discussions on tighter sanctions, will top the agenda in his next meeting with Trump. “We need a new breath in the diplomatic track. We need greater certainty and greater pressure from the world on Putin,” Zelenskyy said.
As the war grinds on and international fatigue threatens to set in, Zelenskyy’s remarks underscore Kyiv’s call for renewed global resolve, especially from its Western allies.
📰 Reported by Newspot Nigeria. Stay tuned for more verified updates.
