Russia handed over the bodies of 1,000 soldiers to Ukraine on Thursday, following an agreement reached at last month’s peace talks, Ukrainian officials confirmed.
Although negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv in Istanbul have failed to secure a ceasefire, they have produced agreements on large-scale prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of war dead.
“The bodies of 1,000 deceased persons have been returned to Ukraine,” said Ukraine’s government agency overseeing the treatment of prisoners of war. Russia claimed all were Ukrainian nationals, including soldiers.
However, Kyiv has previously accused Moscow of including the remains of its own soldiers in such deals, disguised as Ukrainians.
In return, Ukraine transferred the bodies of 19 Russian soldiers. Kremlin aide and negotiator Vladimir Medinsky shared photos of white body bags being unloaded from refrigerated lorries by personnel in medical suits.
Exchanges of captured soldiers and the return of remains have been rare diplomatic successes in the otherwise deadlocked conflict.
Despite international pressure, including from US President Donald Trump, Russia has continued to reject ceasefire calls. Talks last month saw Moscow issue rigid demands, including that Ukraine cede more territory and abandon all Western military support.
Ukraine dismissed these conditions as unacceptable ultimatums and questioned the usefulness of further negotiations without concessions from Moscow.