Russia has handed over the remains of 1,000 fallen Ukrainian servicemen to Kyiv in a significant exchange of deceased military personnel. Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing foreign media outlets, that the repatriation process also involved the return of 38 Russian soldiers' bodies to Moscow.
The exchange follows a previous humanitarian operation conducted on December 19, 2025, during which Moscow transferred 1,000 sets of remains to Kyiv in exchange for 26 Russian servicemen. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the total number of remains returned to Ukraine has now surpassed 11,000 since the beginning of such processes.
The repatriation of fallen soldiers remains one of the few consistent areas of humanitarian cooperation between the warring parties. These exchanges are typically facilitated through international mediation and coordinated efforts between military authorities to ensure the identification and dignified return of personnel to their respective families. Such operations are essential for addressing the humanitarian consequences of the conflict and fulfilling international obligations regarding the treatment of the deceased in wartime.
