Ukraine Receives 1,000 Bodies In Latest Exchange With Russia

Ukrainian authorities have confirmed the receipt of 1,000 bodies from Russia in the latest exchange between the two countries, amid the ongoing war that began with Moscow’s invasion in February 2022.

Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War announced on Thursday that the remains were handed over by the Russian side, which claimed they belonged to Ukrainian soldiers killed in combat.

“Today, repatriation measures took place, under which 1,000 bodies of the deceased, which the Russian side claims belong to Ukrainian defenders, were returned to Ukraine,” the Coordination Headquarters said in a statement posted on social media.

The exchange of prisoners of war and the repatriation of fallen soldiers remains one of the few areas of cooperation between Kyiv and Moscow since the outbreak of the conflict.

Confirming the development, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky said Russia had also received the remains of its own soldiers as part of the exchange.

Medinsky, writing on Telegram, disclosed that the Russian side received the bodies of 38 killed Russian soldiers. He added that the exchange was carried out based on agreements reached by Ukrainian and Russian delegations during talks held in Istanbul last year.

The war, now in its third year, has claimed tens of thousands of lives on both sides. However, neither Ukraine nor Russia regularly publishes official figures detailing their military casualties.

By Cynthia Onuado

Ukrainian authorities have confirmed the receipt of 1,000 bodies from Russia in the latest exchange between the two countries, amid the ongoing war that began with Moscow’s invasion in February 2022.

Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War announced on Thursday that the remains were handed over by the Russian side, which claimed they belonged to Ukrainian soldiers killed in combat.

“Today, repatriation measures took place, under which 1,000 bodies of the deceased, which the Russian side claims belong to Ukrainian defenders, were returned to Ukraine,” the Coordination Headquarters said in a statement posted on social media.

The exchange of prisoners of war and the repatriation of fallen soldiers remains one of the few areas of cooperation between Kyiv and Moscow since the outbreak of the conflict.

Confirming the development, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky said Russia had also received the remains of its own soldiers as part of the exchange.

Medinsky, writing on Telegram, disclosed that the Russian side received the bodies of 38 killed Russian soldiers. He added that the exchange was carried out based on agreements reached by Ukrainian and Russian delegations during talks held in Istanbul last year.

The war, now in its third year, has claimed tens of thousands of lives on both sides. However, neither Ukraine nor Russia regularly publishes official figures detailing their military casualties.