UPDATE - Russia, Ukraine hold exchange of nearly 300 bodies of fallen soldiers

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By Elena Teslova and Burc Eruygur

MOSCOW/ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia and Ukraine on Thursday held an exchange of the bodies of fallen soldiers.

Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on Telegram that as part of the exchange, Russia handed over the bodies of 252 service members.

"According to the Russian side, these individuals were Ukrainian servicemen," said the statement, which thanked the International Committee of the Red Cross for assistance and support in implementing the exchange.

Shamsail Saraliev, a Russian State Duma deputy, confirmed the exchange, telling the RBK news outlet that the swap took place in a 252-for-25 format.

Belarusian state news agency BelTA noted that more than 70 humanitarian and exchange missions had been conducted on Belarusian territory.

It added that the exchange took place at the Novaya Guta border checkpoint between Belarus and Ukraine.

Moscow and Kyiv last held an exchange of the bodies of fallen service members last month, when Russia returned the 252 Ukrainian military personnel, while Kyiv returned the remains of 23 Russians.

Burç Eruygur,Elena Teslova