1,000 Surrendered Ukrainian Soldiers Brought To Russia For Investigation, Bodies Of 210 Fighters Returned To Families: Majority From Mariupol

Surrender of Ukrainian fighters from Azovstal. (Wikimedia Commons/Mil.ru)

JAKARTA - More than 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered in the city of Mariupol have been transferred to Russia for investigation, the TASS news agency reported, citing Russian law enforcement sources.

If confirmed, the news could undermine already troubled peace talks between the two sides, as Ukraine seeks to repatriate its detained soldiers.

Kyiv is seeking the surrender of all about 2,000 defenders from the Azovstal factory in a prisoner swap, but Russian lawmakers are demanding that some soldiers be tried.

"More than 1000 people from Azovstal were brought to Russia. Law enforcement agencies are cooperating with them", the source said, citing Reuters from TASS on June 8.

No further details were given regarding the continuation of the detainees being taken to Russia. However, the source also told TASS that more Ukrainian prisoners would be sent to Russia.

Separately, the Ukrainian military said Russia had so far handed over to Kyiv the bodies of 210 Ukrainian fighters, most of whom died defending the city of Mariupol from Russian troops in a sprawling steel plant, the Ukrainian military said Tuesday.

Ukrainian fighters hid in the Azovstal steel mill for weeks as Russia tried to take the city. Ukrainian soldiers finally surrendered last month and were detained by Russia.

"The process of returning the bodies of the fallen defenders of Mariupol is ongoing. To date, 210 of our soldiers have been returned – most of them are heroic defenders of Azovstal", the Ukrainian defense intelligence directorate said on Twitter.

"Work continues to bring home all arrested Ukrainian defenders", the directorate continued.

Families of Ukraine's Azov national guard unit had previously reported the return of several bodies. Last week, the exchange of 160 bodies between Russia and Ukraine was announced by the Ukrainian Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporary Occupied Territories.

"It is important to note that one-third of the bodies (handed over) were of Azov fighters, the affiliation of other fighters to different units is being clarified", the family said in a statement on Monday.

It is known that Russia designated the Azov Regiment, which led the defense of the steel factory in Mariupol, as a 'Nazi' militia with far-right radical origins. Ukraine, meanwhile, denies this, saying the unit has been reformed, integrated into its armed forces, and is out of politics.