Russia Hands Over 1,000 Ukrainian Bodies, Receives 35 Russian in War Dead Swap

Russia and Ukraine carried out a humanitarian exchange of the remains of fallen soldiers on Thursday, with Moscow handing over the bodies of 1,000 Ukrainian servicemen and receiving those of 35 Russian fighters in return.

The transfer was announced by Kremlin aide and chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky on social media, who described it as occurring under previously agreed mechanisms between the two sides. Medinsky posted an image depicting personnel in protective suits unloading body bags from refrigerated trucks at the exchange point. This marks the second such repatriation of 2026, following a similar operation in late January where Russia transferred 1,000 Ukrainian bodies and received 38 in exchange.

Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War confirmed receipt of the 1,000 bodies, which Russian authorities claim belong to Ukrainian soldiers. Kyiv stated that identification procedures, including forensic examinations and DNA testing, would commence promptly to verify identities and facilitate the return of the remains to families for burial. Such exchanges represent one of the few consistent areas of cooperation amid the ongoing conflict, now in its fifth year since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

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The repatriations highlight the immense human cost of the war, with hundreds of thousands of military personnel reported killed or missing on both sides. Ukrainian officials have emphasized the importance of these operations in providing closure to grieving families, while Russia has framed them as fulfillment of humanitarian obligations. The disproportionate numbers—often around 1,000 Ukrainian bodies for dozens of Russian—reflect battlefield realities, including territorial control and recovery efforts in contested areas.

This latest exchange coincides with heightened diplomatic activity, including upcoming US-Ukraine talks in Geneva aimed at addressing the conflict. Despite periodic prisoner swaps and body repatriations, broader peace negotiations remain stalled, with both sides entrenched in their positions. Authorities on both sides urged continued adherence to such humanitarian arrangements to ease the suffering of those affected by the prolonged hostilities.

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