Ukraine has recovered the bodies of 1,200 fallen soldiers from Russia, authorities in Kiev confirmed on Friday, following another night of Russian drone attacks.
The latest handover, the second this week, was facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, according to officials responsible for prisoner of war issues in Kiev.
On Wednesday, Ukraine received the remains of 1,212 soldiers and, in return, handed over 27 Russian soldiers’ bodies to Moscow.
The exchange follows an agreement reached during direct negotiations in Istanbul earlier this month, where both sides committed to the return of more than 6,000 fallen Ukrainian soldiers from Russian custody. The transfer, initially expected last weekend, was delayed due to coordination challenges between the two parties.
Meanwhile, Russian drone strikes continued overnight, targeting eastern regions of Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that combat drones struck areas around Sumy and Donetsk, triggering air raid alerts.
Ukraine has been resisting a full-scale Russian invasion for over three years.
(dpa/NAN)