In a somber exchange reflecting the ongoing toll of the war, Russia has handed over the remains of 1,000 individuals to Ukraine, as confirmed by Ukrainian officials on Thursday. The handover follows agreements made during earlier peace talks, despite ongoing tensions and a lack of progress toward a ceasefire.
According to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the returned bodies were identified by Russia as Ukrainian citizens, many believed to be soldiers. However, Ukrainian authorities have previously accused Russia of misrepresenting the identities of deceased individuals in similar repatriation arrangements.
In a reciprocal move, Ukraine transferred the remains of 19 Russian soldiers. Russian presidential aide and chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky confirmed the exchange and shared images online of workers in medical gear unloading white body bags from refrigerated trucks.
While both countries have continued prisoner swaps and corpse exchanges throughout the war, broader diplomatic negotiations remain stalled. Two rounds of talks in Istanbul last month failed to secure any meaningful progress toward ending the conflict, now entering its third year.
Russia’s latest proposals included demands for Ukraine to relinquish more territory and cut ties with Western military allies—terms that Ukrainian officials labeled as “unacceptable ultimatums.”
Despite mounting international pressure, including from U.S. officials, Russia has resisted calls for a ceasefire. With both sides holding firm to opposing conditions, hopes for a near-term resolution appear dim.
