Official announcements from Ukrainian or Russian government agencies

Ukraine Repatriates 503 Fallen Soldiers' Bodies From Russia, From Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk

Dec 20, 2024, 01:16 PM

Ukraine has repatriated the bodies of 503 fallen soldiers from Russia, marking a significant exchange amid ongoing conflict. The bodies were recovered from various regions, with 403 from Donetsk, 57 from Zaporizhzhia, 12 from Luhansk, and 31 from morgues in Russia. This repatriation is part of a series of exchanges that have taken place since Russia's invasion in 2022, highlighting one of the few areas of cooperation between Moscow and Kyiv. The operation involved multiple Ukrainian government and military agencies, with assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross. The exchange underscores the human toll of the conflict, with President Volodymyr Zelensky previously reporting that 43,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed since the start of the full-scale invasion.