Russia’s Defense Ministry announced Sunday that Ukraine has declined to pause military operations around the eastern town of Kostiantynivka, blocking a proposed exchange of fallen Ukrainian soldiers’ remains.
The ministry said Russia put forward a six-hour ceasefire in and around Kostiantynivka on Monday to allow for the handover of Ukrainian servicemen’s bodies, giving Kyiv a deadline of 9:00 a.m. GMT Sunday to respond to the offer.
The announcement comes after Russian military commanders briefed President Vladimir Putin on Friday, telling him that Russian forces had seized control of Kostiantynivka. Ukraine pushed back on that claim, insisting its troops remain in control of the town.
Kostiantynivka has been a long-sought target for Russia as part of its ongoing military campaign in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine’s defense ministry and general staff had not responded to requests for comment at the time of this report.
