More than 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered in Mariupol have been transferred to Russia to investigate them, TASS reported, citing a source in Russian law enforcement.

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"More than 1,000 people from Azovstal have been transferred to Russia. Law enforcement agencies are actively working with them," the source said, without specifying how they would be dealt with.

He added that more Ukrainian prisoners could be transferred to Russia at a later stage.

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If the news is confirmed, it will hinder the already problematic peace talks between the two countries, Reuters notes.

Ukraine wants all about 2,000 defenders of the Azovstal metallurgical plant returned to it as part of a prisoner exchange, but Russian lawmakers have demanded that some of the soldiers be tried.

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