This claim, stating that Ukraine and Russia exchanged dead bodies, 1000 to 19, is mostly true. However, an article by Al Jazeera states that it was actually 24 bodies that had been handed over by the Ukrainians: “The vast majority of the bodies were received by Ukraine from Russia, while the bodies of 24 Russian soldiers were handed over by Ukraine.” This was all made possible by the Red Cross. “Their exchange of bodies was mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, according to Ukraine’s “I Want to Find” project.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/18/ukraine-says-russia-returns-1000-bodies-in-latest-exchange
According to The Moscow Times, this was the third time that Ukraine and Russia have swapped bodies. Their swaps were one of the few times that they had cooperated during their war. Just like Al Jazeera, The Moscow Times also notes that there were 24 bodies returned to the Russians, not just 19. “Russia returned the bodies of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers while receiving the bodies of 24 Russian soldiers in exchange, lower-house State Duma lawmaker Shamsail Saraliyev told the RBC news website.”
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/09/18/russia-and-ukraine-exchange-1k-bodies-of-soldiers-a90564
