Russia returns remains of 252 Ukrainians after new strikes
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Lapresse
Russia and Ukraine exchanged the remains of 252 Ukrainian military personnel for 25 Russian remains at the Novaïa Gouta border crossing in Belarus. Russian strikes then killed two people and injured 34 others in Ukraine, according to Volodymyr Zelensky, while diplomatic discussions continue, reports La Presse.
Russia handed Ukraine the remains of 252 Ukrainian military personnel in a new exchange organised at the Novaïa Gouta border crossing between Belarus and Ukraine. Kyiv, for its part, handed Moscow the remains of 25 Russian military personnel, according to the Belarusian news agency BelTA, cited by La Presse.
Belarus has hosted more than 70 humanitarian and exchange missions since the start of the conflict, BelTA said. The operation took place as drone and missile strikes continued between the two countries after Wednesday’s meeting in St Petersburg between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russian attacks carried out overnight from Wednesday to Thursday killed two people and injured 34 others in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Twelve regions were targeted, including Kyiv, where 21 ballistic missiles were fired in three waves; Ukraine’s air force says it shot down 181 of the 210 drones launched by Russia. Russia, for its part, announced that it had destroyed 163 drones approaching Moscow, where two people were injured, reports La Presse. The exchange comes after Russian and Ukrainian strikes that followed the talks.
