Russia announced the transfer of bodies of those who died in the Il-76 crash to Ukraine, prompting a response from the Coordination Headquarters.

Ukraine has indeed received remains of the deceased from Russia. However, they require further identification.

This was reported by RBK-Ukraine with a link to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

Background

On Monday, December 9, the Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatiana Moskalkova stated that Russia allegedly transferred the bodies of prisoners of war to Ukraine, who may have died in the crash of an Il-76 in the Belgorod region on January 24.

Moskalkova claimed she was present during the transfer of the bodies.

What the coordination headquarters says

The agency noted that during the latest repatriation activities, remains of the deceased were transferred to Ukraine from Russia. However, they require additional identification.

"As of now, expert institutions within the framework of the criminal proceedings are establishing whether the remains indeed belong to Ukrainian servicemen," the statement said.

They also mentioned that the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War is monitoring the situation and is in contact with all authorized institutions.

Lubinets' reaction

The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, stated that he is in contact with all competent authorities regarding this issue.

"Recently, there have been a number of repatriation activities during which remains of the deceased were transferred to Ukraine. Identification is currently underway," - he wrote.

Crash of the Russian Il-76 aircraft

On January 24 of this year, a Russian Il-76 aircraft crashed in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation. After that, Russians began to claim that Ukraine had allegedly shot down the plane. At the same time, Moscow started spreading information that there were 65 captured Ukrainian soldiers on board, who were supposedly to be sent for a prisoner exchange.

Later, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense confirmed that an exchange was indeed supposed to take place on January 24. However, the information about the presence of Ukrainian prisoners of war on the aircraft is not confirmed by intelligence.

The Russian ombudsman Tatiana Moskalkova stated that Moscow is ready to transfer the bodies of Ukrainian prisoners of war, allegedly killed in the Il-76 plane crash.