BREAKING: Russia and Ukraine Complete Large-Scale Prisoner and Body Exchange Following Istanbul Negotiations
In a significant diplomatic development, Russia and Ukraine have successfully exchanged a large number of prisoners and repatriated the bodies of fallen soldiers, an agreement stemming from negotiations held last month in Istanbul, Tรผrkiye. While previous rounds of talks in Istanbul failed to secure a ceasefire, this exchange marks the sole diplomatic success between the two warring nations.
Vladimir Medinsky, a Russian negotiator and Kremlin official, announced on Telegram that 1,000 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers were handed over to Ukraine on Thursday, July 17, 2025. He also stated that Ukraine returned the bodies of 19 Russian soldiers. Medinsky shared photographic evidence of the handover, depicting individuals in medical attire moving white body bags from refrigerated trucks.
These exchanges of captured soldiers and the repatriation of deceased military personnel have occurred intermittently throughout the ongoing conflict. Despite pressure from then-US President Donald Trump, Russia has maintained its refusal to agree to a ceasefire. The conflict, which has now entered its fourth year, has seen no progress towards a comprehensive peace agreement.
During the Istanbul negotiations last month,Russia presented a list of stringent demands,including territorial concessions from Ukraine and a complete cessation of Western military aid. Kyiv has deemed these demands unacceptable, raising doubts about the efficacy of further negotiations if Moscow remains unwilling to compromise.