Russia claimed on Sunday that Ukraine had rejected a proposal for a local ceasefire intended to allow the return of the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers killed in action in the eastern city of Kostiantynivka. Ukrainian authorities have not yet publicly responded to these accusations.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Moscow had proposed a six-hour truce in Kostiantynivka and the surrounding area to facilitate the recovery and transfer of the remains of Ukrainian soldiers. Russia claims to have given Kyiv until 9:00 GMT on Sunday to respond to this proposal.
This announcement comes two days after Russian military commanders informed President Vladimir Putin that Russian forces had taken control of Kostiantynivka. Ukraine, however, disputes this version of events, asserting that its troops retain control of the city.
Kostiantynivka is a major strategic objective for Moscow in the Donetsk region. Its capture would strengthen the position of Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, where fighting remains particularly intense.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Armed Forces did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment regarding the Russian statements. In the absence of an official response from Kyiv, Moscow's claims could not be independently verified.
This new exchange of weapons comes as clashes continue on several fronts, despite repeated calls from the international community for humanitarian measures aimed in particular at facilitating the evacuation of the wounded and the return of the bodies of soldiers killed in combat.
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