Ukraine says it received bodies of 528 fallen soldiers from Russia

Saturday 16 May 2026 - 11:45

Ukraine has announced that it has received the bodies of 528 soldiers from Russia as part of ongoing wartime repatriation procedures, according to the country’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

Authorities stated that the remains, which Russian officials reportedly said may include Ukrainian servicemen, were transferred as part of humanitarian arrangements between the two sides. The identification process will now be carried out by law enforcement investigators and forensic specialists to determine the identities of the deceased.

The announcement was made through an official statement published on social media, confirming that the bodies were returned in coordination efforts related to the ongoing conflict.

Earlier reports from Russian state media suggested that both countries had conducted an exchange of remains, with Moscow reportedly transferring over 500 bodies to Ukraine while receiving several dozen in return. However, Russian authorities have not issued a formal public confirmation of the latest exchange.

Previous exchanges have taken place throughout the conflict. In earlier incidents, Russia claimed to have returned thousands of bodies to Ukraine, while Ukraine also transferred the remains of Russian soldiers under separate arrangements. Both sides have periodically acknowledged large-scale repatriation efforts, though figures and details often differ.

Despite limited official transparency, prisoner and body exchanges have continued intermittently, sometimes facilitated by third-party mediators. These exchanges are among the few areas of ongoing cooperation amid the wider military confrontation.