Russia Says Ukraine Rejects Local Ceasefire for Handover of Soldiers’ Bodies

By Reuters July 5, 2026 Chief of Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov during the Friday meeting with President Vladimir Putin. kremlin.ru Ukraine has refused to halt the shelling of the town of Kostiantynivka in the east of the country to allow Russia to hand over the bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. Russian military commanders told President Vladimir Putin on Friday that Moscow's forces had taken control of Kostiantynivka, though Ukraine denied the claim, saying its forces remained in control of the town. Kostiantynivka is a key locality whose capture Moscow has long sought in its military campaign in the Donetsk region. Russia said it had proposed a six-hour ceasefire in and around Kostiantynivka on Monday to facilitate the handover of Ukrainian servicemen's bodies and had given Kyiv until 09:00 GMT on Sunday to respond. Ukraine's Defense Ministry and General Staff did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Read more about: Ukraine war , Donetsk Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian Army Says It Captured 2 Villages Near Dobropillia in Eastern Ukraine Russian forces have made a swift advance in the area in recent days, piercing through Ukrainian defenses ahead of the U.S.-Russia summit. 1 Min read Russian Army Says Captured Town in Ukraine's Donetsk Region The Russian Ministry of Defense said its forces captured the town of Ukrainsk, about 30 kilometers west of Donetsk. 1 Min read Feature 10 Years Later, Russian Volunteer Fighters Recall Fueling the War in Donbas Thousands of Russian citizens joined the armed insurgency in eastern Ukraine that marked the initial phase of Russia's covert invasion. 8 Min read Russia Says One Killed, 41 Injured in East Ukraine Attack Ukraine's military said it had destroyed a Russian "formation" in Makiivka and released video showing a huge explosion lighting up the night sky. 1 Min read