Fact Check: "Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War confirmed that Russia returned 1,200 bodies of fallen soldiers on Saturday."
What We Know
On June 14, 2025, Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War announced that Russia had returned 1,200 bodies of fallen soldiers as part of a repatriation agreement reached during peace talks in Istanbul. According to the Ukrainian officials, the bodies are said to belong to Ukrainian citizens, particularly military personnel (AP News). This repatriation marks one of the largest returns of remains since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia over three years ago. The bodies were reportedly collected with the assistance of various Ukrainian government agencies, including the Armed Forces and the Security Service (BBC).
Analysis
The claim that 1,200 bodies were returned by Russia is corroborated by multiple reputable sources, including the Associated Press, BBC, and Reuters. Each of these outlets reported on the repatriation, confirming the number and the context of the agreement reached during the Istanbul peace talks (AP News, BBC, Reuters).
The Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters has a credible standing, as it is a government entity responsible for managing matters related to prisoners of war and the repatriation of deceased soldiers. The consistency of reports across multiple independent news organizations lends further credibility to the claim.
However, it is important to note that the Russian side has also been involved in these negotiations, and there may be discrepancies in the reporting of numbers or identities of the deceased. The situation is complex, with ongoing accusations and counter-accusations between the two nations regarding the handling of bodies and the conditions of the exchanges (BBC).
Conclusion
Based on the evidence provided by multiple credible sources, the claim that Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters confirmed the return of 1,200 bodies of fallen soldiers by Russia is True. The reports are consistent and corroborated by official statements from Ukrainian authorities, indicating that this significant repatriation has indeed taken place.
Sources
- Ukraine repatriates 1,200 bodies from Russia | AP News
- Ukraine collects 1,212 bodies in latest swap with Russia | BBC
- Ukraine receives 1200 bodies of dead Ukrainian soldiers | Reuters
- Top News from Ukraine Today - KyivPost
- Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv repatriates more bodies of fallen soldiers | The Guardian
- Ukraine Recovers 1,200 More Bodies of Fallen Citizens from Russia | KyivPost
- 90 Patriot Missiles Transfer From Israel to Ukraine in Biggest US Weapons Move | KyivPost
- 1,200 more bodies returned to Ukraine - Coordination Headquarters for Treatment of Prisoners of War | Ukranews
