Russia and Ukraine Exchange Bodies of Over 530 Fallen Soldiers

July 16, 2026 International Red Cross personnel gather the bodies of Russian and Ukrainian servicemen. sb.by Russia and Ukraine exchanged the remains of more than 530 soldiers killed during the war, the RBC news outlet reported Thursday, citing a Russian lawmaker. Ukraine received 501 bodies of its soldiers while handing Russia the remains of 31 soldiers, Shamsail Saraliyev, a State Duma lawmaker from the ruling United Russia party and member of a parliamentary group dedicated to the conflict, told RBC. The exchange took place near the border with Belarus, according to the Interfax news agency. Ukraine has not yet confirmed the exchange. RBC noted that this was the 13th swap of either fallen soldiers or prisoners of war since the start of 2026. The return of fallen service members and the exchange of prisoners of war have been among the very few areas of humanitarian cooperation between Russia and Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in 2022. Earlier on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky paid tribute to Ukrainian soldiers killed in the conflict during a visit by outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Russia’s military accused its Ukrainian counterparts earlier this month of refusing a six-hour ceasefire on July 6 to facilitate the exchange of fallen soldiers. 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 Moscow and Kyiv Return Over 300 POWs in Latest Exchange The two countries said that the exchange, coming just before the New Year holiday, was brokered by the United Arab Emirates. 2 Min read 5 Killed in Ukrainian Rocket Attack on Kursk Region, Governor Says Videos shared online showed the aftermath of the attack in Rylsk, with several cars engulfed in flames and multiple buildings badly damaged. 2 Min read Ukraine Says Bodies of Over 500 Killed Soldiers Returned From Russia The exchange of prisoners and bodies of killed military personnel remains one of the few areas of cooperation between Moscow and Kyiv since Russia invaded... 1 Min read Portugal Condemns Russian Attack That Damaged Embassy in Kyiv Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel said the diplomatic missions of Argentina, Albania and Montenegro were also damaged in the strikes. 1 Min read