Ukraine on Thursday confirmed the return of 1,000 bodies from Russia, with Moscow stating that the remains belonged to Ukrainian soldiers killed in the ongoing war.
The repatriation represents one of the few remaining forms of cooperation between both countries since the conflict began in February 2022.
According to Kyiv’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the handover was conducted as part of routine repatriation measures. The agency announced that the bodies, which Russia claimed were those of Ukrainian servicemen, had been transferred back to Ukraine for further processing.
Officials in Kyiv noted that investigators and forensic experts will begin examinations to identify the repatriated bodies. They stressed that proper identification is essential for providing closure to affected families and ensuring accurate military records.
Russian state media, citing unnamed sources, reported that the exchange also included the return of 30 bodies of Russian soldiers. This exchange continues the pattern seen throughout the war, where both sides occasionally swap prisoners or remains despite ongoing hostilities.
Public records show that Ukraine has so far received a total of 15,000 bodies from Russia since the conflict began. Officials say the continued repatriations highlight the human cost of the war and the importance of humanitarian arrangements even in times of conflict.
Ukraine reiterated that it remains committed to retrieving every fallen soldier, stressing that repatriation efforts will continue as long as necessary.