Kyiv, Ukraine

The wife of a Ukrainian prisoner of war alleged that Russia has been stealing and selling the organs of dead prisoners, Daily Mail reported on Thursday. 

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As quoted, Larysa Salaeva, wife of a Ukrainian prisoner and head of the Freedom to Defenders of Mariupol campaigning group, said: "It is already well-known that we receive the bodies of tortured prisoners during body exchanges." 

"We receive not only tortured bodies but also bodies, unfortunately, without organs," she added. 

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Salaeva was speaking in Ankara at a meeting which was held among representatives of the families of prisoners of war and Ukraine's Ambassador to Turkey, Vasyl Bodnar. 

She alleged that she believes that the current scenario confirms that the black market for organ transplantation in the Russian Federation is active. 

"And, unfortunately, it operates with our prisoners of war. Therefore, I believe that this must be made known to the whole world to stop this crime," Salaeva added. 

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As quoted in the Daily Mail report, the mother of a serviceman revealed the appalling state that troops are in when they are returned to Ukraine in PoW swaps. 

She said, "We see the state of health in which our boys return. It's indescribable: they are thin, they need medical help. Every time, their health deteriorates in captivity. It's the third year now." 

Russia, Ukraine exchange prisoners 

In July, Russia and Ukraine conducted a major exchange of prisoners, 190 in all, in their third such swap over the past seven weeks, following negotiations mediated by the United Arab Emirates. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said all 95 Ukrainians who were freed were from the military, and thanked the UAE for its help. 

In a statement on Telegram, Russia's defence ministry said that the returning soldiers would receive medical examinations and physical and psychological rehabilitation. 

Moscow said the freed troops had faced "mortal danger" in Ukrainian captivity. 

(With inputs from agencies)

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