Ukraine has received the bodies of 1,212 fallen soldiers from Russia, marking one of the largest single exchanges of war dead since the conflict began. The operation is part of a broader prisoner and body swap deal, where both sides have agreed in principle to return as many as 6,000 bodies each, along with severely wounded prisoners, the sick, and young detainees under the age of 25.
The latest exchange, confirmed by Ukraine’s coordination centre for the treatment of prisoners of war, included soldiers from several frontline regions such as Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian officials noted that the process of identifying the deceased is underway, with forensic teams and military officials working to match the remains to missing soldiers.
In contrast, Russia reported receiving just 27 bodies in return, according to Vladimir Medinsky, Moscow’s chief negotiator. Medinsky also announced that Russia would begin exchanging severely wounded prisoners starting Thursday, as agreed in last week’s peace talks held in Turkey. The talks yielded limited outcomes, with this repatriation deal being the only tangible result.
Tensions have surrounded the process. Russia accused Ukraine of delaying the collection of bodies, claiming that Ukrainian remains had been stored in refrigerated trucks at an exchange point since Saturday. Ukraine strongly denied these allegations, accusing Moscow of distorting facts and engaging in propaganda tactics.
The first round of body and prisoner exchanges began on Monday, leading to emotional scenes at the border near Belarus. Families of missing Ukrainian soldiers gathered in the hope of receiving news or closure about their loved ones.
This recent operation brings the total number of repatriations to more than 70 since the start of the conflict. While it offers some solace to grieving families, the vast disparity in numbers exchanged also underscores the heavy human toll on Ukrainian forces.
As the war grinds on with no resolution in sight, the return of these fallen soldiers serves as a solemn reminder of the cost of conflict and the desperate need for sustained humanitarian action.
