Russia returns bodies without internal organs during exchanges

The return to Ukraine of the bodies of prisoners of war without internal organs may be evidence that they are used in Russia for transplantation.

This was discussed at a meeting in Ankara between representatives of the families of prisoners of war and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Turkey Vasyl Bodnar, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Today it is already known for certain that we receive the bodies of those tortured in captivity (in the exchange of bodies). We receive not only tortured bodies, but bodies that, unfortunately, are without organs. This confirms the fact that the black market of organ transplantation in the Russian Federation is working. And, unfortunately, it works with our prisoners of war. That is why I believe that this should be reported to the whole world in order to stop this crime,” said the wife of one of the prisoners of war of the Mariupol garrison.

The woman appealed to the President of Turkey to support the creation of a mixed medical commission to monitor the health of both Ukrainian and Russian prisoners of war.

“And I would also like to ask Turkey to act as a patron country in resolving all humanitarian issues related to the exchange of prisoners of war,” the prisoner's wife added.

She emphasized that Russia refuses to return and include prisoners of war from the Mariupol garrison in the exchange lists.

“In fact, they tell very terrible things, they are worried about their husbands and sons. And this is real pain, which motivates us to work faster and encourage our international partners to take some action.One of the main requirements is to create an international medical commission that would investigate the condition of our prisoners of war and help them deal with health problems... And this is one of the messages that was conveyed to the Turkish side,” Ambassador of Ukraine to Turkey Vasyl Bodnar said in a comment to Ukrinform.

The diplomat expressed hope that Turkey, including in the role of a patron state, would actively engage in helping family members of prisoners of war to collect information about their relatives and achieve exchanges.

“I am a mother myself, and the last contact I had with my son was in February, when the exchange took place.We see the state of health in which our boys return. It is impossible to put it into words: they are thin, they need medical care. Each time their health condition deteriorates in captivity. This is the third year. Will we wait for this exchange, and will they wait for it? We do not know. And that's why we are worried... Many relatives did not wait for their children to be released from captivity. It's very scary,” emphasized the mother of a soldier who has been in Russian captivity for three years.

Author - Dmitriy Levchenko, 24/07/2024