Moscow: Russia and Ukraine have announced the completion of another exchange of bodies as part of the agreements reached earlier this year in Istanbul. As part of the Istanbul agreements, presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky reported on Telegram that the bodies of 1,000 fallen Ukrainian soldiers have been handed over to Ukraine. In return, Kyiv has returned the bodies of 26 Russian servicemen to Moscow.

According to Anadolu Agency, Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War also confirmed the exchange, stating it received the bodies of 1,003 of its servicemen. The headquarters expressed gratitude for the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross, although it did not specify the number of bodies returned to the Russian side.

Moscow and Kyiv have engaged in three rounds of renewed peace talks in Istanbul, which took place on May 16, June 2, and July 23. These discussions have resulted in significant prisoner swaps and draft memorandums outlining potential peace deal positions for both sides.