Moscow: Russia and Ukraine have conducted a significant exchange of soldiers' remains, marking a rare instance of cooperation amid their ongoing conflict. The head of Russia's delegation for talks on Ukraine, Vladimir Medinsky, announced that Moscow has handed over the remains of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv.
According to Kuwait News Agency, this exchange also saw Russia receiving the remains of 35 of its servicemen. The transfer was facilitated under previously agreed humanitarian understandings between the two nations. Russian news agencies reported that Medinsky emphasized that the exchange was conducted under a mechanism agreed upon during earlier negotiation rounds and in coordination with relevant authorities.
Moscow affirmed its commitment to fulfilling humanitarian obligations and noted that contacts with Kyiv would continue on other humanitarian issues, despite the stalled political settlement track. Ukrainian authorities have confirmed receipt of the bodies and stated that identification procedures would soon commence before returning them to their respective families. They described the exchange of bodies and prisoners as one of the few areas where practical progress has been achieved.
This development unfolds against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which erupted on February 24, 2022. The international community continues to strive for a ceasefire and a comprehensive political settlement to resolve the hostilities.