The TASS news agency quoted a Russian source as saying that more than a thousand Ukrainian soldiers who had surrendered in the city of Mariupol were taken to Russia for interrogation.
The source added that at a later time more Ukrainian prisoners will be transferred to Russia.
Ukraine says it is working to get all the captives back, while some members of Russia’s parliament say they should be brought to trial.
In a related context, a representative of the Russian military prosecutor said on Tuesday that Russia had prosecuted regarding 12 army officers following sending hundreds of conscripts to fight in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly denied Russia’s use of young conscripts recruited by the state, saying that only professional soldiers and officers are involved in Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.
But the Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged last March that Some were sent by mistake to fight in Ukraine.
“About 600 recruits were sent to the special military operation, and all of them returned as quickly as possible,” the prosecutor, Arthur Egeev, told the Russian parliament’s upper house on Tuesday.
He added that officers who allowed this to happen faced disciplinary action, including possible dismissal.
General Roman Kutuzov
Senior Russian officer killed
In another context, the leader of pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine confirmed on Tuesday the killing of a Russian general in… This is an area where there is intense fighting.
In a message posted on the “Telegram” website, Denis Pushlin, head of the “Donetsk Republic” affiliated with the separatists, expressed his “sincere condolences to the family and friends of General Roman Kutuzov, who was an example in serving the country.”
He added, “As long as our generals fight alongside the soldiers, our country and our nation will not be defeated,” and attached the post with a black and white photo of the officer.
The Russian war correspondent, Alexander Sladkov, had reported on Sunday the killing of General Kutuzov, but no official sources had confirmed his death so far.
Russian forces and their separatist allies are launching an offensive in the Ukrainian Donbass, and the battles are raging Especially in the city of Severodonetsk.
An unknown number of senior Russian military officers have been killed since the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine on February 24. The Russian authorities rarely talk regarding their losses.
At the end of March, a ceremony was held in the Crimea, annexed by Russia, to honor the deputy commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Andrei Pale, who was killed in battles near Mariupol (southeast).
In April, a funeral was held in St. Petersburg for General Vladimir Frolov, who was killed in Ukraine.
