The bodies of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been returned by Russia, Kyiv announced, marking another significant soldier swap between the two warring nations.
In return, Russia received 38 bodies, as confirmed by Moscow's chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky. He shared an image on Telegram, depicting individuals in biohazard suits beside refrigerated trucks used for transporting the remains.
Historically, Kyiv and Moscow have exchanged thousands of soldiers' bodies over the course of their ongoing conflict. This latest exchange was part of an agreement reached during discussions in Istanbul last year. As part of the deal, the two nations aimed to return a total of 12,000 soldiers' bodies, alongside prisoners of war who are severely injured or under 25 years old.
The last exchange of bodies took place in November, where Ukraine received 1,000 bodies while giving back only 30. Since October 2025, there have been no exchanges of prisoners of war, with both sides accusing each other of delays.
As the conflict approaches its fourth anniversary since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, peace talks are ongoing. Recently, Russian, Ukrainian, and US negotiators met in the UAE for discussions, although critical territorial issues remain unsolved, particularly regarding Ukraine's control over 25% of Donetsk.
Despite negotiations, drone attacks continue unabated, with tragic incidents claiming lives, including a recent attack that killed five people in Kharkiv as a passenger train was struck. The conflict has seen Russia step up strikes against essential infrastructure, leaving many in freezing conditions without heating or power.
