Russia Transfers Another 1,200 Fallen Ukrainian Soldiers to Ukraine

Russia has handed over another 1,200 deceased Ukrainian soldiers to Ukraine, marking the second such transfer in two days. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oemerov confirmed the news to Reuters, describing it as one of the largest repatriations of war casualties since Russia's invasion in February 2022.

Russian state media reported that Ukraine has not released any Russian bodies in return. Over the past month, Russia has reportedly transferred more than 4,800 bodies to Ukraine as part of agreements made in Istanbul last month. These agreements include the exchange of prisoners of war and fallen soldiers, with Kyiv obligated to return 6,000 bodies, along with sick, severely injured, and young prisoners.

So far, Russia has acknowledged the return of only 27 of its soldiers. The Ukrainian minister emphasized the upcoming "critical and sensitive phase" of identifying the bodies, which will provide closure for grieving families.

Since the Istanbul agreements, at least three prisoner exchanges have occurred, though the exact numbers remain undisclosed.