Russia and Ukraine Exchange Bodies of 275 Fallen Soldiers

Sep. 17, 2026 BELTA Russia and Ukraine exchanged the remains of 275 soldiers killed during the war, officials and Belarusian state media reported Thursday. The exchange took place at the Novaya Guta border crossing point in Belarus, Shamsail Saraliyev, a State Duma lawmaker from the ruling United Russia party and member of a parliamentary group dedicated to the conflict, told the RBC news outlet. Russia handed over 252 bodies to Ukrainian authorities, while Ukraine returned 23 bodies. “Belarus continues its humanitarian mission,” the country’s state news agency Belta said in a report that included photos of the exchange. The Ukrainian military confirmed the swap and credited its search teams for continuing their work “despite the threat of drone strikes, remote mining and enemy shelling.” Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said law enforcement agencies will work to identify the 252 returned bodies. It said the International Committee of the Red Cross assisted in the exchange. Repatriations of fallen soldiers and prisoner-of-war exchanges remain among the few channels of direct communication between Russia and Ukraine since President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion in 2022. The previous exchange of bodies took place on Aug. 13, when Russia received 24 of its fallen soldiers and Ukraine received 261. Read more about: Ukraine war Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Trump Team Not in Touch With Kremlin, Russian Officials Say “Contacts with the new administration have not started,” Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told state media. 2 Min read Former Finnish President ‘Annoyed’ Europe Not Talking to Kremlin About Ending War Sauli Niinistö said that Europe should be involved in dialogue with Moscow about ending the invasion of Ukraine. 3 Min read Kyiv Claims Russian Forces Killed 6 Captured Ukrainian Troops Kyiv said it was notifying international rights groups of the latest alleged Russian war crime. 1 Min read Moscow Remains ‘Ready’ for Dialogue Despite Trump Threats, Kremlin Says Trump warned of fresh sanctions against Russia unless it agreed to a deal to end its nearly three-year war on Ukraine. 1 Min read