Ukraine says Russia returned 261 bodies in swap

Russia and Ukraine swapped bodies of killed soldiers on Thursday, in one of the few areas where the warring sides still cooperate.

Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said 261 deceased persons had been returned to Ukraine. It said the Russian side described them as Ukrainian servicemen.

RBC, citing a Russian lawmaker, also reported that Moscow had handed over 261 bodies, while Ukraine had transferred 24.

Kyiv has previously accused Russia of including the remains of civilians and Russian soldiers in such exchanges. Exchanges of bodies and captured prisoners of war are among the few areas where the two sides conduct diplomacy more than four years since Russia invaded Ukraine.