Ukraine and Russia Conduct Major Soldier Body Exchange

Sat Jan 31 2026 16:01:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant development, Ukraine has received 1,000 bodies of its soldiers in a swap with Russia, furthering ongoing negotiations between the two nations amid the ongoing conflict.

In a recent negotiation, Ukraine successfully retrieved the bodies of 1,000 soldiers from Russia, while Moscow received 38 in return. This exchange, part of an agreement reached in Istanbul, highlights ongoing efforts to manage the aftermath of conflict as both nations approach the four-year mark since the full-scale invasion began.

The bodies of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been returned by Russia, Kyiv has reported, marking the latest exchange between the two warring countries.

In return, Russia received 38 bodies, as confirmed by Moscow's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky. He shared a photograph on Telegram showing the exchange, which included individuals in biohazard suits next to white refrigerated trucks used for transporting bodies.

This exchange adds to the thousands of soldiers' bodies that have been swapped throughout the nearly four-year-long conflict. The recent swap was made possible by an agreement brokered in negotiations held in Istanbul in 2025.

As part of the deal, both sides consented to return the bodies of 12,000 soldiers and to release sick and severely wounded prisoners of war and those under 25 years old.

The last swap occurred in November of the previous year when Russia returned 1,000 bodies to Ukraine, with 30 bodies in exchange.

Since October 2025, there has been no prisoner of war exchange, with both sides accusing each other of impeding the process. As the war's fourth anniversary approaches in February 2022, ongoing peace negotiations continue, albeit hindered by unresolved territorial disputes.

Recently, Russian, Ukrainian, and U.S. negotiators held trilateral talks in the UAE — the first since the war began. Despite claims of constructive dialogue, significant territorial concerns remain, particularly regarding Russia's request for Ukraine to cede control over 25% of the Donetsk region.

Despite these discussions, hostilities persist, with both sides actively engaging in aerial attacks. A recent drone strike in Ukraine's Kharkiv region resulted in the deaths of at least five individuals when a Russian drone hit a passenger train.

Amid the harsh winter, Russian strikes have targeted critical infrastructure in Ukraine, leaving many residents without heating or power as freezing temperatures set in.