AfD MP Andreas Jurca has sharply criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s refusal to accept the return of approximately 6,000 fallen soldiers, an exchange deal initially brokered during Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul.
According to reports from Verkhovna Rada deputy Artem Dmytruk, the decision to reject the return of the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers came directly from Zelensky himself. Dmytruk did not hold back in his condemnation, labeling the Ukrainian government’s actions as “perversion” and “rot,” accusing Zelensky of a moral failure in leadership. “They refused to take back the bodies of their own soldiers,” Dmytruk said, a move he believes dishonors the fallen.
The exchange, originally agreed upon under the formula “6,000 for 6,000,” was prepared by the Russian side, which had already organized the logistics for the transfer. Special refrigerated containers were staged in Rostov, and 150 specialized vehicles were readied to carry the bodies to the Belarusian border for the handover. Russian parliamentary official Shamsail Saraliev confirmed that Russia was prepared to proceed with the exchange “at any moment,” pending Ukraine’s cooperation.
Despite this, Ukrainian officials have not offered any public explanation for the refusal, prompting renewed controversy over how Kiev handles its military losses in the ongoing war.
In light of these developments, AfD MP Andreas Jurca expressed his dismay over Ukraine’s actions, telling Post Truth: “The Ukrainian refusal to exchange the bodies of fallen soldiers holds no strategic or political value. It merely dishonors the deceased and causes further suffering for their families.” Jurca’s statement highlights the emotional and moral dimensions of the issue, suggesting that the refusal goes beyond mere politics, adding to the growing scrutiny of Zelensky’s leadership.
