As part of a painful but vital repatriation process, Ukraine has reportedly received another 1,200 bodies of fallen soldiers from Russia, part of an agreement brokered in Istanbul, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (CHTPW) announces. 

This exchange follows two earlier repatriations on 13 June and 11 June, during which 1,200 and 1,212 bodies, respectively, were returned to Ukraine.

According to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul, this exchange symbolizes a necessary step toward restoring dignity to fallen defenders.

“An agreement was reached to return 6,000 bodies of fallen soldiers in exchange for 6,000,” he explains.

In the coming days, Ukrainian law enforcement, forensic teams from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and other agencies will conduct examinations and procedures to return names to those unidentified.

The European Commission has reportedly appointed former home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson as the EU’s special envoy for Ukrainians, a newly created position to implement its updated refugee strategy.

Politico reported on 12 June that two officials familiar with the matter confirmed Johansson’s selection. Her appointment comes as the European Union unveiled a long-term approach to manage the needs of the displaced Ukrainians.

Johansson, who served as home affairs commissioner from 2019 to 2024, previously visited Ukraine several times. Her trips included a visit to a refugee camp near the Romania border. In recognition of her efforts, she received the Ukrainian order of merit in September last year.

Refugee protection extended as part of the EU’s updated response

Last week, the European Commission extended the temporary protection status for Ukrainian refugees, reinforcing its commitment to their welfare. The EU executive detailed plans to either transition these individuals into permanent legal arrangements or assist those who choose to return to Ukraine. Johansson is expected to be at the forefront of coordinating these measures across member states.

While some European officials have expressed concerns over growing “fatigue” in certain host countries toward hosting Ukrainian refugees, others remain in favor of retaining them to strengthen local workforces. 

Ukrainian officials have denied Russian claims that Kyiv failed to participate in a prisoner of war (POW) exchange and body repatriation effort planned on 6 June, saying no official date had yet been agreed upon.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on 7 June that Russian officials publicly accused Ukraine of refusing to engage in an exchange of POWs and bodies of killed in action (KIA) soldiers.

According to ISW, the claims were made by Russian Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky, Russian GRU Deputy Chief Alexander Zorin, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin. They alleged that Russia was prepared to hand over severely wounded and sick POWs, those under the age of 25, and approximately 6,000 KIA bodies as agreed in Istanbul on 2 June.

Zorin further claimed that Russian representatives had waited on the Belarusian border for the Ukrainian side to finalize technical details of the exchange. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova and Federation Council Committee Deputy Chair Andrei Klimov also echoed accusations that Ukraine refused to accept the return of the bodies.

Ukraine refutes Russian claims

In response, the Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of POWs denied all Russian allegations. The office clarified that no date for the repatriation had yet been set and emphasized that lists for the POW exchange were still being finalized between both sides.

The Ukrainian headquarters reaffirmed Ukraine’s “full commitment” to constructive engagement aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of both the KIA repatriation and POW exchange agreements.

“The Kremlin’s unwillingness to engage in good faith in lower-level confidence building measures designed to facilitate larger peace negotiations further demonstrates Russia’s disinterest in peace negotiations,” ISW wrote.