On April 9, Ukraine welcomed the return of 1,000 remains, which Russian authorities claim belong to Ukrainian defenders who lost their lives in the ongoing conflict. This significant repatriation marks the beginning of a meticulous identification process.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War announced that Ukrainian law enforcement, alongside experts, will undertake the necessary steps to identify the repatriated remains. This collaborative effort involves various agencies, including the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Office of the Ombudsman.
Officials expressed gratitude to the International Committee of the Red Cross for their assistance in facilitating these repatriation efforts. The successful return of the remains was attributed to the coordinated work of multiple security and defense structures in Ukraine.
According to Shamzail Saraliyev, a representative from the Russian State Duma’s coordination group, the Ukrainian side also transferred 41 bodies of fallen servicemen to Russia on the same day. The Russian Ministry of Defense has yet to comment on this recent repatriation.
Previous Repatriation Efforts
This latest exchange follows a series of repatriations, with the last significant one occurring on February 26, 2026, when Ukraine returned another 1,000 remains, also claimed by Russia to belong to Ukrainian soldiers. Data from the Coordination Headquarters indicates that, under previous agreements, a total of 6,057 remains were returned to Ukraine by June 2025.
In line with the Istanbul agreements reached on June 2, Ukraine received another 1,000 remains from Russia on July 17. Additional repatriation activities took place on August 19, September 18, and October 23, with each involving the return of 1,000 remains. Most recently, on November 20, Russia returned another 1,000 remains, followed by an additional 1,003 on December 19.
Ukraine has successfully repatriated 1,000 remains of fallen defenders, with identification efforts set to begin. This operation reflects ongoing exchanges between Ukraine and Russia regarding the remains of servicemen lost in the conflict.