Ukrainian Officials Refute Claims of Major War Dead Exchange with Russia

Ukrainian officials dismissed claims made by pro-Russian representatives on Friday, asserting that the two nations had not initiated a significant operation to repatriate the remains of deceased soldiers.

“The assertions from agents of the aggressor nation, suggesting that the retrieval of bodies or repatriation efforts have supposedly commenced following the agreements in Istanbul, are not accurate,” stated Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War via Telegram.

Earlier that day, pro-Kremlin figure Vladimir Rogov, from the occupied Zaporizhzhia region, asserted that Russia had received the remains of 42 soldiers in exchange for the remains of 503 Ukrainian servicemen. This claim has not been publicly acknowledged by Moscow.

Delegates from both Russia and Ukraine convened in Istanbul on Monday, where they were unable to reach an agreement on a ceasefire but did come to terms on a new exchange of prisoners and a commitment to return the remains of 6,000 soldiers from each side.

“Efforts are still being made to facilitate the exchange of critically ill and injured individuals, young people, and the return of the bodies of fallen defenders,” the Coordination Headquarters noted. “Any unilateral declarations or actions by representatives of the aggressor nation merely represent another attempt to exploit a vital and sensitive issue.”

Since the onset of Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia and Ukraine have routinely exchanged prisoners and the remains of fallen soldiers. Since October, both parties have conducted at least nine exchanges involving 500 or more soldiers.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in February that over 46,000 Ukrainian military personnel had lost their lives in the conflict since early 2022. While Russia has not provided an updated official military death count since 2022, independent sources estimate that the toll of confirmed Russian soldiers killed exceeds 111,000.