Moscow: More than 12,000 Ukrainian servicemen’s remains returned since June

Russia has transferred more than 12,000 remains of Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen to Ukraine since June 2025, while Kyiv has handed over the bodies of more than 200 Russian soldiers.

According to Caliber.Az, the information was included in a response by the Russian Foreign Ministry to media questions submitted ahead of a press conference by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reviewing the results of Russian diplomacy in 2025.

The ministry said that 17 rounds of exchanges of prisoners of war and detained individuals between Russia and Ukraine were carried out in 2024–2025 with mediation by the United Arab Emirates, resulting in the release of more than 4,000 people. More than half of those freed returned home between May and October 2025.

In addition, the repatriation of the bodies of those killed began in June last year. During this process, Ukraine received more than 12,000 remains of its servicemen, while Russia recovered more than 200 bodies of its military personnel.

The most recent exchange of remains took place on January 29, when Russia was handed 38 bodies, and Ukraine received 1,000.

Since the conflict began in 2022, the two sides have repeatedly exchanged prisoners. In May last year, during the first direct negotiations in Istanbul after nearly three years, they agreed on a large-scale swap under a “1,000 for 1,000” formula. After the third round of talks in July, another exchange was agreed in a “1,200 for 1,200” format, implemented in stages.

Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said in late December that as part of the Istanbul agreements, Moscow had brought back 2,300 soldiers, while Kyiv had returned 2,400. Both countries also repatriated 170 civilians each.

The Kremlin has stated that contacts regarding further exchanges are continuing.

By Tamilla Hasanova