Ukraine has confirmed the return of 1,000 bodies of its fallen servicemen from Russia on Thursday, September 18, in what officials described as a rare humanitarian exchange between the two warring sides.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War in Kyiv said that the remains were handed over through mediation involving the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
In return, Ukraine repatriated the bodies of 24 Russian soldiers.
Officials noted that the remains claimed to be Ukrainian will undergo forensic examinations to establish identities before being released to families for burial.
This latest transfer follows a series of similar arrangements between Moscow and Kyiv since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
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Earlier in June, Ukraine reported receiving more than 1,200 bodies under an agreement that has facilitated the return of over 6,000 war dead in total.
The recovery and identification of fallen troops has been one of the few areas of cooperation maintained during the conflict, even as peace negotiations remain stalled.
Ukrainian authorities said the repatriation effort is crucial both for honoring the memory of soldiers and for providing closure to families still waiting for news about their missing loved ones.