2 brothers pay respects as Marine killed in WWII is buried

The remains of a Marine lost since the early days of World War II have been buried in Philadelphia, more than 70 years after he was killed.

Dominic Ragucci had thought that the body of brother Emil was swept out to sea during a battle on the Pacific atoll of Tarawa. On Tuesday, the 86-year-old and his family finally held a funeral after the remains were recovered and brought back to the U.S.

He was laid to rest in the family's plot in Philadelphia, near his parents and his brother Nicholas, who was killed in Italy less than 90 days after Emil's death.

This undated photo provided by the United States Marine Corps shows Emil Ragucci, who was killed in action during World War II. Decades after his death in the South Pacific Battle of Tarawa, Ragucci's remains are scheduled to return home to Philadelphia on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. (United States Marine Corps via AP)

Dominic and 91-year-old brother Victor Ragucci stood on the tarmac Monday as Emil's body was returned.

Emil was 19 when he was killed during a bloody three-day battle.

This image shows a Western Union Telegram dated Dec. 23, 1943, announcing that United States Marine Corps Private Emil Ragucci was killed in action during World War II. Decades after his death in the South Pacific Battle of Tarawa, Ragucci's remains are scheduled to return home to Philadelphia on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. (Courtesy of the Ragucci family via AP)

In this early 1940s photo provided by the United States Marine Corps, Emil Ragucci poses with a rifle. Decades after his death in the World War II Battle of Tarawa in the South Pacific, Ragucci's remains are scheduled to return home to Philadelphia on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. (United States Marine Corps via AP)

This combination of undated photos shows five of the Ragucci brothers, from left: Anthony, Emil, Joseph, Nicholas, and Dante, all of whom served in the United States armed services during World War II. Nearly 70 years after Emil's death in the South Pacific Battle of Tarawa, his remains are scheduled to return home to Philadelphia on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. (Courtesy of the Ragucci family via AP)

In this July 31, 2018 photo, Dominic Ragucci points to a photo of himself, top left, and his brothers Gus, center, and Victor during a interview with The Associated Press in Philadelphia. The three siblings were all members of the United States armed services. (AP PhotoMatt Rourke)

In this undated photo provided by the Ragucci family, Carmela and Nicola Ragucci pose with their daughter, Mary. Eight of the couple's sons served in the military during and after World War II. (Courtesy of the Ragucci family via AP)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Ukrainian court on Friday ordered the detention of the country’s farm minister in the latest high-profile corruption investigation, while Kyiv security officials assessed how they can recover lost battlefield momentum in the war against Russia.

Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court ruled that Agriculture Minister Oleksandr Solskyi should be held in custody for 60 days, but he was released after paying bail of 75 million hryvnias ($1.77 million), a statement said.

Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau suspects Solskyi headed an organized crime group that between 2017 and 2021 unlawfully obtained land worth 291 million hryvnias ($6.85 million) and attempted to obtain other land worth 190 million hryvnias ($4.47 million).

Ukraine is trying to root out corruption that has long dogged the country. A dragnet over the past two years has seen Ukraine’s defense minister, top prosecutor, intelligence chief and other senior officials lose their jobs.

That has caused embarrassment and unease as Ukraine receives tens of billions of dollars in foreign aid to help fight Russia’s army, and the European Union and NATO have demanded widespread anti-graft measures before Kyiv can realize its ambition of joining the blocs.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was due to hold online talks Friday with the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which has been the key international organization coordinating the delivery of weapons and other aid to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said late Thursday that the meeting would discuss how to turn around Ukraine’s fortunes on the battlefield. The Kremlin’s forces have gained an edge over Kyiv’s army in recent months as Ukraine grappled with a shortage of ammunition and troops.

Russia, despite sustaining high losses, has been taking control of small settlements as part of its effort to drive deeper into eastern Ukraine after capturing the city of Avdiivka in February, the U.K. defense ministry said Friday.

It’s been slow going for the Kremlin’s troops in eastern Ukraine and is likely to stay that way, according to the Institute for the Study of War. However, the key hilltop town of Chasiv Yar is vulnerable to the Russian onslaught, which is using glide bombs — powerful Soviet-era weapons that were originally unguided but have been retrofitted with a navigational targeting system — that obliterate targets.

“Russian forces do pose a credible threat of seizing Chasiv Yar, although they may not be able to do so rapidly,” the Washington-based think tank said late Thursday.

It added that Russian commanders are likely seeking to advance as much as possible before the arrival in the coming weeks and months of new U.S. military aid, which was held up for six months by political differences in Congress.

While that U.S. help wasn’t forthcoming, Ukraine’s European partners didn’t pick up the slack, according to German’s Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which tracks Ukraine support.

“The European aid in recent months is nowhere near enough to fill the gap left by the lack of U.S. assistance, particularly in the area of ammunition and artillery shells,” it said in a report Thursday.

Ukraine is making a broad effort to take back the initiative in the war after more than two years of fighting. It plans to manufacture more of its own weapons in the future and is clamping down on young people avoiding conscription, though it will take time to process and train any new recruits.

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Ukrainian young acting student Gleb Batonskiy plays piano in a public park in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)