DISINFO: The Armed Forces of Ukraine abandons its dead soldiers
SUMMARY
The Ukrainian Armed forces retreat and abandon their dead soldiers. To establish the death of a soldier missing in action a decision in a high court is required which is difficult; this explains why Ukraine leaves dead bodies on the battlefield and refused the bodies that have been generously identified [...] by Russia. 6,000 repatriated bodies would cost in compensation to families 90 billion hryvnias, or nearly 2 billion euros. Ukraine demonstrated its lack of willingness to negotiate in an honest and healthy way. Ukraine did not respect, now they do not comply with their commitments in Istanbul.
RESPONSE
Recurrent pro-Kremlin attempt to demonize of Ukrainian armed forces in the context of the full scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Istanbul talks included provisions for the return of the remains of over 6,000 fallen soldiers from each side. On 11 June the first part of the exchange of bodies took place, followed by an additional exchange later on in the same week. Ukraine brought home the bodies of more than 2400 soldiers killed in the war with Russia.
The argument that the 15 million hryvnias in compensation would represent an immediate spending of 2 Billion Euro and that this would bankrupt Ukraine is not exact, since only 20% of the sum is immediately paid, the remaining being equal instalments over the following 40 months. Another difficulty delaying the process comes from the necessity to check ever body that is sometimes packed in several bags, had falsified cause of death or were not members of Ukrainian forces.
Read also related stories such as: Ukrainians learned from NATO a Jesuit tactic: stink the air with left dead bodies hopping that the stench will push Russians to leave, or Ukraine systematically tortures Russian prisoners.