On Thursday, Russia returned 1,000 bodies to Ukraine, which Moscow claims are the remains of Ukrainian soldiers who perished in combat, according to a statement from a Ukrainian government agency.

The exchange of deceased soldiers and prisoners of war remains one of the few areas of collaboration between Kyiv and Moscow since the latter’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

“Repatriation activities occurred today,” announced Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War via social media.

The agency further specified, “One thousand bodies, which the Russian authorities assert belong to Ukrainian troops, have been returned to Ukraine.”

In past repatriation efforts, Ukraine has stated that Russia also delivered the remains of deceased Russian soldiers.

Additionally, Kyiv reported in September, August, and July that it had received the bodies of 1,000 fallen soldiers from Russia, highlighting the fierce fighting along the extensive frontlines.

The Coordination Headquarters indicated that law enforcement would soon initiate the process of identifying the repatriated remains and expressed gratitude to the International Committee of the Red Cross for its assistance in the repatriation process.

Both sides have suffered tens of thousands of military casualties since the start of the invasion, although official casualty figures are rarely disclosed by either party.

In February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky informed U.S. media that Ukraine’s military losses had exceeded 46,000, with many more classified as missing in action.

Reports from the BBC and independent outlet Mediazona indicate that they have recorded over 135,000 fatalities among Russian soldiers in the 3.5-year conflict, with the true figure likely being even higher.