Ukraine’s military and political leadership has rejected Russia’s proposal to collect the bodies of Ukrainian servicemen left in Konstantinovka, which is under the control of the Russian army, the Russian Defense Ministry said on July 5.

According to the ministry, the issue was discussed through special services, but the Ukrainian side refused the offer.

The ministry said Kiev had taken no steps to ensure that the dead Ukrainian soldiers could be returned to their relatives and given a proper burial. It argued that this position once again shows how the Ukrainian authorities treat their own servicemen as expendable material, including those sent to the front through forced mobilization.

On July 4, after Konstantinovka came under the control of Russian forces, the Russian Defense Ministry announced its readiness to hand over the bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers. The proposed condition was a temporary halt to shelling of the city.

Russia suggested that Ukrainian forces cease fire in Konstantinovka on July 6 from noon until 6 p.m. Moscow time. Kiev was expected to notify the Russian command of its decision by noon on July 5. The ministry did not rule out that the transfer of the bodies could take place directly on the territory of Konstantinovka.

The Russian Defense Ministry also said it was ready to organize access for foreign journalists during the transfer if Ukraine agreed to the humanitarian action. According to the ministry, representatives of media outlets from more than 20 countries expressed interest in coming to Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic to observe the procedure.