World

Russia returns remains of 522 Ukrainian soldiers, receives 33 in swap

Russia has handed Ukraine the remains of 522 people it identified as killed soldiers, officials said, one of the few acts of cooperation between the warring countries.

“As a result of the repatriation efforts, the bodies of 522 deceased individuals have been returned to Ukraine,” Ukraine’s prisoners of war centre said on social media on Thursday.

“According to the Russian side, the bodies belong to citizens of Ukraine, in particular servicemen,” it added.

Russian parliamentarian Shamsail Saraliyev confirmed the information to Russian broadcaster RBC.

He said Russia had received the bodies of 33 of its own soldiers in return.

Ukraine did not say whether it handed any bodies to Russia.

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Thousands of bodies repatriated

Photos from the Ukrainian prisoners of war centre showed masked men in white overalls unloading white trucks.

The swap announcement coincided with each side launching mass drone barrages at the other’s capitals.