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06/13/2025
June 13, 2025 Ukraine receives 1,200 bodies of soldiers from Russia
Dozens of POWs have been swapped this week, but neither Ukraine nor Russia have disclosed exactly how many Image: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout/REUTERS
Ukrainian authorities on Friday said Russia had returned the bodies of 1,200 Ukrainian soldiers.
"According to the Russian side, the bodies belong to Ukrainian citizens, in particular military personnel," Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (KSHPPV) said on Telegram.
The statement added that law enforcement investigators and "experts" would conduct tests to identify the repatriated bodies.
The bodies were returned as part of a deal this month in Istanbul that also saw the two sides agree to a large prisoner of war (POW) exchange.
The Istanbul talks provided for the return of the remains of more than 6,000 fallen soldiers from each side.
Dozens of POWs have been exchanged since. Around 1,200 soldiers were swapped on Thursday.
Also this week, Ukraine repatriated the bodies of 1,212 soldiers who died fighting the war, which began in February 2022 after Russia launched a full-scale invasion.
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