In a significant development, Russia has returned the bodies of 501 Ukrainian soldiers to Ukraine, marking the largest repatriation of war dead since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War announced the repatriation, stating that most of the soldiers were killed in action in the eastern Donetsk region, particularly around the city of Avdiivka, which Russian forces captured in February after a lengthy and intense battle.
The repatriation process will involve the identification of the victims by law enforcement agencies and forensic experts. Once identified, the remains will be handed over to family members for burial. The ongoing war has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides, although precise figures remain unavailable.
Amidst the ongoing conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has outlined his ‘victory plan’ aimed at compelling Russia to end the war through negotiations. This proposal is under consideration by Ukraine’s Western partners, whose support is crucial for Kyiv to withstand the aggression of its larger neighbor. A key aspect of the plan involves Ukraine’s formal entry into NATO, a prospect that Western backers have been hesitant to consider until after the war concludes.
On Friday, US President Joe Biden met with European leaders in Berlin, emphasizing the need for continued Western support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has accused Russia of receiving assistance from China, Iran, and North Korea. South Korea’s spy agency has reported that North Korea has deployed troops to support Russia in the conflict. According to Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian Military Intelligence, approximately 11,000 North Korean troops are currently undergoing training in Russia with the intention of joining the fight against Ukraine. Budanov further stated that the initial 2,600 North Korean soldiers are poised to reinforce the Russian army in Kursk, the Russian border region where Ukraine has maintained a presence since early August.
While world leaders grapple with the next steps, the fighting continues relentlessly. On Thursday night, the Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched a massive drone attack, deploying 135 Shahed drones, along with other unidentified drones, targeting various locations in Ukraine. This marked one of the largest single drone barrages of the war. The air force confirmed that the majority of the drones were intercepted. However, there has been no official information regarding casualties or damage resulting from the attacks.