On Thursday, Russia handed over the remains of 1,000 soldiers to Ukraine, a source from the Russian negotiating delegation told reporters, and Kiev returned the bodies of 41 dead Russian soldiers.
The two sides regularly exchange the remains of soldiers killed in combat, one of the few areas of cooperation during the four-year war that was triggered by a large-scale Russian offensive that killed hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
Russian state video agency Ruptly released footage of men in white overalls and blue gloves lifting white body bags from a truck and transferring them to another vehicle. The footage also shows observers with Red Cross insignia emblazoned on their overalls.
Russia and Ukraine swap fallen soldiers — Russian State Duma deputy Saraliev confirms
1,000 bodies of Ukrainian troops — in exchange for 41 Russian servicemen pic.twitter.com/qsmjpn1Iia
— RT (@RT_com) April 9, 2026
The Ukrainian Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War confirmed on social media that the bodies of “1,000 deceased persons have been returned to Ukraine.”
– According to the Russian side, the returned bodies belong to Ukrainian soldiers – the headquarters says.
In the past, Kiev has accused Moscow of handing over the bodies of dead Russian soldiers among those it claims are members of Ukrainian forces.
– After the deceased are identified, the bodies will be handed over to their families for a dignified burial – the Coordination Headquarters announced.
Last month, the Red Cross announced that it facilitates the exchange of around 1,000 bodies every month and that “thousands and thousands of dead remain unidentified”.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February 2022 sparked Europe’s bloodiest war since World War II, forcing millions into their homes and killing civilians on both sides, AFP reports.
(Vijesti.ba/Fena)
