Ukraine and Russia Exchange Nearly 1,000 Fallen Soldiers in Latest Swap

Ukraine and Russia conducted a major exchange of fallen soldiers’ remains on Friday, with a total of 952 bodies transferred between the two warring nations, officials confirmed.

According to Vladimir Rogov, a pro-Kremlin activist in Zaporizhzhia, Russia received 43 bodies of its soldiers. Russian lawmaker Shamsail Saraliyev also confirmed the exchange to local media.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported receiving 909 bodies of its soldiers. The remains were retrieved from battle zones in Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia, key regions witnessing intense combat.

“Law enforcement officials and forensic experts will work swiftly to identify the fallen soldiers,” the Ukrainian agency stated.

Rogov suggested the significant difference in numbers reflected Ukraine’s “heavy battlefield losses.” However, independent verification of casualty figures remains challenging amid the ongoing war.

This marks the seventh exchange of remains since October 2024, with over 500 Ukrainian soldiers repatriated in previous swaps. Despite hostilities, the transfer of prisoners and fallen troops remains a rare point of humanitarian cooperation between Moscow and Kyiv.