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Topics: Russia, Ukraine, World News, Volodymyr Zelensky
Poppy Bilderbeck
Ukraine's UN ambassador has asked the International Committee of the Red Cross to help repatriate the bodies of Russian soldiers killed in action in Ukraine.
On Saturday, February 26, Ukraine Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya took to Twitter to announce the country's appeal to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to 'facilitate repatriation of thousands of bodies of Russian soldiers' that have amassed since Putin first sent troops across the border on Thursday, February 24.
While the post includes a chart claiming that 3,500 Russian troops have been killed so far, the total number of fatalities is yet to be confirmed. However, the UK's Ministry of Defence stated the amount is 'likely greater than acknowledged by the Kremlin'. The Ukrainian military also alleged that the Russian Federation Army have suffered the 'worst number of fatalities in its entire existence'.
In the post, Kyslytsya stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had already made 'the same appeal' to Secretary General of the UN António Guterres.
'Ukraine already appealed to #ICRC to facilitate repatriation of thousands of bodies of Russian soldiers killed in action in Ukraine. @ZelenskyyUa made same appeal to @antonioguterres. Parents in RU should have chance to bury them with dignity. Don’t let Putin hide scale of tragedy,' the tweet reads.
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The post also included a chart of statistics from The Kyiv Independent that claim Russia's losses, as of February 26, stand at a total of '3,500 soldiers, 102 tanks, 536 armoured vehicles, 15 artillery pieces, 14 fighter jets, 8 helicopters, and 1 BUK-1 system'.
The statistics are noted as being sourced from a report by the Defence Ministry, released at 8.00am EET on February 26.
Guterres has since taken to Twitter to confirm his conversation with President Zelensky.
'I spoke today with @ZelenskyyUa and conveyed the determination of the @UN to enhance humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine. Respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians are now paramount,' he said.
His latest tweet follows a series of updates saying the UN's staff are 'on the ground, scaling up the life-saving support, on both sides of the line of contact'.
Guterres noted that while the UN Charter 'has been challenged in the past, [...] it has stood firm on the side of peace, security, development, justice, international law & human rights'. He added, 'The international community must do everything in its power so that these values prevail in Ukraine & for all humanity.'
While the ICRC's permanent observer to the United Nations, Laetitia Courtois, has stated that it 'cannot confirm numbers or other details', Ukraine's deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar has estimated that as of today, February 27, the Russian military has seen a total of 4,300 fatalities, BBC News reports.
ICRC forensic specialist, Oran Finegan, noted that the 'protection of the dead during Ukraine conflict is an obligation under International Humanitarian Law.
'The dead must be recovered and returned to their loved ones @ICRC works with parties to conflict to help ensure the dead are protected.'
Courtois concluded: 'In every conflict, the respectful handover of mortal remains is a critical humanitarian endeavour #ukraine.'
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information