Russia and Ukraine Exchange Bodies of Nearly 300 Soldiers

Oct. 22, 2026 Belta / Facebook Russia and Ukraine exchanged the remains of 277 soldiers killed fighting in the war, the RBC outlet reported Thursday, citing a Russian lawmaker. Russia returned 252 bodies to Ukraine and received 25 fallen Russian soldiers in return, said Shamsail Saraliyev, a State Duma lawmaker from the ruling United Russia party and member of a parliamentary group dedicated to the conflict. The exchange took place at the Novaya Guta border crossing in Belarus, according to Belarusian state media. Ukraine did not immediately confirm the exchange. The repatriation came a day after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff concluded talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg to discuss renewing trilateral peace negotiations that have stalled since February. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that Kyiv supported a U.S. proposal for three-way talks with Moscow and Washington. The Kremlin said Putin had agreed to resume the U.S.-mediated talks as early as next month. Russia and Ukraine previously exchanged the bodies of fallen soldiers in September and August. 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 Zelensky Says North Korean Troops Back on Russian Front Line The announcement comes weeks after reports that Moscow had withdrawn North Korean troops due to heavy losses. 1 Min read Ukrainian Drone Attack Sets Oil Depot Ablaze in Southern Russia, Authorities Say The attack targeted the village of Novominskaya, where debris from a downed drone fell on an oil reservoir, regional officials said. 1 Min read ‘Rare Earths’ for Aid: Ukraine’s Minerals Threatened by War U.S. President Trump said he wanted to negotiate an agreement in which Kyiv guarantees supplies of the specific category of rare earth metals. 2 Min read Ukraine Sees Surge in Inquiries From Russian Families on Missing Soldiers Ukraine established a hotline last year to help Russians locate missing soldiers as part of efforts to facilitate prisoner exchanges. 1 Min read