RFE/RL: Morgues in Belarus fill up with the bodies of Russian soldiers, locals say.

by The Kyiv Independent news desk March 13, 2022 8:07 AM 1 min read

This audio is created with AI assistance

Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine are being brought by truck to the morgues and then sent back to Russia by train or plane, according to residents who talked to RFE/RL. The morgues in Belarusian cities of Mozyr, Homel and Naroulia are reportedly full.

The Kyiv Independent news desk

We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.Read more

News Feed

6:15 PM

BREAKING: Putin ready for ceasefire but demands 'guarantees' depriving Ukraine of aid.

Russia is ready to agree to the U.S.-proposed ceasefire in Ukraine but demands guarantees that Kyiv will not mobilize or train troops, nor receive military aid during it, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on March 13.

5:07 PM

Russia seeks to prolong war, Zelensky says about lack of clear response to proposed ceasefire.

"Regrettably, for more than a day already, the world has yet to hear a meaningful response from Russia to the proposals made," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

4:29 PM

Opinion

The Counteroffensive: What Trump's intelligence sharing pause cost Ukraine

3:58 PM

Ukraine receives $1.7 billion from Canada under G7 loan covered by Russian assets.

Ukraine has received the first tranche of 2.5 billion Canadian dollars (about $1.7 billion) from Ottawa under the G7's Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) initiative.

3:53 PM

Opinion

Putin has likely rejected Trump's ceasefire proposal — what now?

3:44 PM

Kyiv Mayor Klitschko announces more dismissals of city officials amid corruption probe.

The following officials are set to be dismissed: Ihor Dolinsky, director of the Kyiv Institute of Land Relations; Volodymyr Sharyi, director of the special housing fund; Viktor Pohrebnoi, director of the Financial Company Zhytloinvest; and Valentina Sviatina, deputy director of the Department of Urban Planning and Architecture, Klitschko said.

3:37 PM

War analysis

Kyiv sees no surprises as Russia signals its rejection of US-backed ceasefire proposal

3:07 PM

Putin aide claims NATO 'threatens' Russia in Baltic.

Russian presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev accused the alliance, particularly the U.K., of provoking instability in the region.

2:40 PM

ECHR rules Ukraine failed to prevent, investigate violence in Odesa in 2014.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on March 13 that the Ukrainian government failed to prevent and properly investigate deadly clashes between the EuroMaidan supporters and opponents in Odesa in May 2014.

1:34 PM

Russia opposes temporary ceasefire, top Putin aide says.

"We believe that our goal is a long-term peaceful settlement, and we are striving for that, a peaceful settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of our country and our known concerns," said Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.

1:15 PM

Finland announces $217 million military aid package for Ukraine.

Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen confirmed that the package includes artillery ammunition, citing Ukraine's urgent need for such supplies.

12:52 PM

Rheinmetall prepared to supply arms for possible Ukraine peacekeeping mission.

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said the company could provide "more than 2,000 items" for such a mission, including tanks, armored vehicles, electronic warfare systems, reconnaissance drones, and satellite technology for monitoring a potential ceasefire line.

12:43 PM

Ukrainian drones strike covert UAV plant in western Russia, sources claim.

Drone production lines were located on the grounds of an aerated concrete plant in the village of Obukhovo in Kaluga Oblast's Dzerzhinsky district, a military intelligence source claimed.

12:17 PM

UK, France lead talks among 37 countries on 'coalition of the willing' in Ukraine, Bloomberg reports.

London and Paris are leading discussions among 37 countries from Europe, Asia, and the Commonwealth on shielding Ukraine against any future Russian aggression in case of a peace settlement, Bloomberg reported on March 13, citing official sources.

12:07 PM

Trump's envoy Witkoff reportedly lands in Moscow as US seeks Russian agreement on ceasefire.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff’s visit comes as the U.S. seeks Russian approval for a proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, which Kyiv accepted during talks in Jeddah on March 11.

11:48 AM

Russian diesel exports to Africa reportedly plummet amid Ukrainian drone strikes.

Russian diesel exports to African countries nearly halved in February, dropping from 1.27 million tons in January to 684,000 tons, according to a report by the Center for Price Indices (CPI) reviewed by RBC.

11:17 AM

Russia claims to retake Sudzha; Ukraine hasn't confirmed.

Russian forces have retaken Sudzha, a key stronghold of Ukrainian troops in Kursk Oblast, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed on March 13.

10:57 AM

French National Assembly backs resolution on seizing Russian assets.

The resolution, which carries symbolic significance, urges the European Union, NATO, and allied nations to boost political, economic, and military aid for Ukraine.

10:18 AM

Polish president urges US to deploy nuclear weapons in Poland.

"The borders of NATO moved east in 1999, so 26 years later there should also be a shift of the NATO infrastructure east. For me, this is obvious," Polish President Andrzej Duda said.

10:11 AM

Russia suspected of killing 5 Ukrainian POWs in Kursk Oblast.

Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets referred to a video circulating on social media that purportedly shows unarmed Ukrainian soldiers killed after being captured by Russian troops.

9:42 AM

5 killed, 28 injured in Russian strikes against Ukraine over past day.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 74 of the 117 drones launched by Russia overnight over 11 regions, the Air Force reported. Thirty-eight decoy drones disappeared from radars without causing damage, according to the statement.

9:13 AM

Russia presents US with demands for possible Ukraine peace deal, Reuters reports.

According to the sources, Russian and U.S. officials discussed these demands during face-to-face and virtual conversations over the past three weeks.

8:11 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 890,250 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,200 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:00 AM

White House won't confirm if it has mechanisms to enforce ceasefire with Russia.

"Well, that’s obviously a grand hypothetical question that I won’t comment on, because we’re not there yet," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on March 12.

6:21 AM

EU parliament accuses US of 'blackmailing' Ukraine in joint declaration.

The declaration accuses the U.S. of trying "to negotiate a ceasefire and peace agreement with Russia over the heads of Ukraine and other European states."

MORE NEWS