Ukraine's president says Russia repatriated at least 20 of its own dead soldiers in recent exchanges with Ukraine, describing it as a result of Moscow's disorganization.

Russia sent to Ukraine some of its dead troops in a prisoner and body exchange to hide Moscow's true battlefield losses, according to Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian president said that Vladimir Putin was using the return of war dead to obscure the scale of military losses from the Russian public.

During an annual economic conference in St. Petersburg, Russia, President Vladimir Putin did not rule out his forces taking the Ukrainian city of Sumy.

The Russian president said Ukraine must recognize 2022 referenda results in four regions he claims to have annexed.

By Vladimir Soldatkin and Guy Faulconbridge ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday dismissed claims the war in Ukraine is devastating the Russian economy, citing continued growth,