The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (KSHPPV) announced that "the repatriation operation took place today. 1,000 bodies, which the Russian side said were Ukrainian soldiers, have returned home." The KSHPPV added that forensic experts and law enforcement officials will examine the bodies for identification.

I Want to Find, a Ukrainian government project providing information on prisoners of war and missing Russian soldiers, stated that Kyiv also returned 24 bodies to Moscow. "The exchange was facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross," the project said.

While Russian officials haven't commented, TASS, citing an unnamed source, confirmed the numbers involved in the exchange.

Vehicles carrying the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers at an undisclosed handover location on 18/9. Photo: KSHPPV

Vehicles carrying the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers at an undisclosed handover location on 18/9. Photo: KSHPPV

The exchange of prisoners of war and bodies is one of the few areas where Russia and Ukraine have found common ground.

During direct talks in Turkey in early June, Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange soldiers' remains. Ukraine's defense minister said the exchange would follow a "6,000 for 6,000" formula, while Russia described it as a unilateral repatriation.

Russia returned over 6,000 bodies to Ukraine in the following weeks and received 79 of its own soldiers' remains. Russian President Vladimir Putin later stated Moscow was ready to return another 3,000 bodies to Kyiv.

In subsequent direct talks on 23/7 in Istanbul, Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange civilians and military personnel. Russia invited Ukraine to form three online working groups to address political, military, and humanitarian issues.

Vladimir Medinsky, advisor to the Russian president and head of the Russian delegation, said the decision to hold a fourth round of talks would depend on the implementation of the latest agreements.

The Kremlin announced last week that peace talks between Russia and Ukraine were "paused".

Pham Giang (AFP, TASS)