Russia has returned the bodies of 501 Ukrainian soldiers to Ukraine, marking the largest repatriation of war dead since the invasion began in February 2022. The soldiers, primarily killed in the Donetsk region, will be identified by law enforcement and forensic experts before being handed over to their families for burial. Meanwhile, the war continues with drone attacks and international discussions on the next steps, with Ukraine seeking NATO membership as a key element of its proposed ‘victory plan’.