Russian propaganda is actively exploiting one of the most sensitive topics for Ukrainian society – the exchange of prisoners of war and the repatriation of the bodies of fallen soldiers. The Kremlin is using cynical and unfounded accusations against Ukraine in an attempt to sow discord, demoralize Ukrainians and portray Kyiv as an “inhuman” party that allegedly despises its heroes.
Recently, pro-Russian Telegram channels have been actively spreading manipulative information that Ukraine has allegedly refused to accept 6,000 bodies of fallen soldiers as part of negotiations with Russia. The main motive voiced by the propagandists is to avoid paying compensation to the families in the amount of more than $2.1 billion. Fact-checkers of the Stop Fake project drew attention to the cynical fake about “giving up the bodies” and billions in compensation.
Back in early June 2025, in Istanbul, the parties agreed to exchange prisoners of war and repatriate the bodies of the dead in the format of “6000 for 6000”. The representative of the Russian side, Vladimir Medinsky, made a statement that was not true: allegedly, Ukraine postponed the exchange of prisoners and refused to accept 1212 bodies of the dead Ukrainian military on June 6. These claims were immediately denied by the Coordination Center for the Treatment of Prisoners of War on June 6. The statement of the headquarters clearly states: “Information about Ukraine’s refusal to repatriate is false.”
In fact, Ukraine regularly repatriates the bodies of the dead. In 2025, 757 bodies were returned: in January – 757, in February – 757, in April – 909, and in May – another 909. According to Slovo i Dilo, as of April 2025, Ukraine has returned about 8,000 bodies of fallen soldiers.
It is also important to emphasize that families of fallen servicemen in Ukraine are entitled to state compensation in the amount of UAH 15 million, which is paid in stages: 20% immediately, the rest in equal installments over 40 months. Thus, the allegation that Ukraine is abandoning bodies to avoid payments is absurd and completely unfounded.
It should be noted that Russia often manipulates the sensitive topic of repatriation of our defenders. The Kremlin seeks to demoralize Ukrainians, and especially the families of the dead and captured, by using an emotional topic. Russia seeks to arouse resentment and demoralize Ukrainian society by portraying Ukraine as a party that does not care about its defenders when it comes to money. This is a broader strategy to sow distrust in Ukrainians toward their state, which is portrayed as either ineffective or cynically corrupt. These manipulations are part of a broader disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting the Ukrainian government and weakening its credibility.
Russian propagandists often spread fake news that Ukraine allegedly does not want to exchange its military, which is another attempt to mislead Ukrainian prisoners and their families. Often, Ukrainian prisoners on Russian territory are told that they will be exchanged, and then claim that Ukraine has refused to accept them. This creates a depressing impression on the prisoners and their families, who begin to blame their own state for the inability to return their defenders. At the same time, only Russia is really to blame.
Russian manipulations on the exchange of prisoners and bodies are a vivid example of cynical information warfare aimed at dividing society and undermining trust. It is important to be vigilant and critically evaluate the information disseminated online, especially when it concerns such sensitive topics.
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