Ukraine "Received Over 210 Bodies of Mariupol Warriors"

On the 22nd of last month (local time), Russian soldiers were conducting mine-clearing operations within the Azovstal steel plant premises in the southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The bodies of hundreds of fallen soldiers who resisted the Russian army in the southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol have been repatriated.

On the 8th (local time), the Ukrainian Intelligence Service announced on Twitter that it had received 210 bodies of fallen soldiers from Russia. Most of the fallen are reported to have died at the Azovstal steel plant, the last stronghold of the Ukrainian forces defending Mariupol.

The Intelligence Service stated, "Procedures are underway to recover the bodies of the defenders who fell in Mariupol," adding, "All fallen soldiers must return to Ukrainian territory and embark on their final journey there with honor." It also said, "Efforts to repatriate captured soldiers are ongoing."

The previous day, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that there are 6,489 Ukrainian prisoners of war. Among them, approximately 2,500 are estimated to belong to the 36th Marine Brigade and the Azov Regiment, who resisted for over 80 days at the Azovstal steel plant before surrendering.

Additionally, TASS news agency reported that more than 1,000 of the Azovstal surrenderers were transferred to Russia on the same day to be investigated for involvement in war crimes. Most of those under investigation are expected to be members of the Azov Regiment.

Russia cited the oppression of Russian-speaking residents by far-right Nazi and nationalist groups within Ukraine as a justification for its invasion in February. The Azov Regiment, established based on the Azov Sea coastal region including Mariupol, originated from far-right groups and is one of the representative Nazi and nationalist groups identified by Russia.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.