Identification Underway for 1,000 Fallen Soldiers Received from Russia

Russia has handed over another 1,000 bodies to Ukraine, which, according to statements made by Moscow, belong to Ukrainian servicemen, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported.

According to the statement on Telegram, investigators and experts from the Ministry of Internal Affairs will soon carry out the necessary forensic examination and DNA analysis to identify the repatriated remains.

The repatriation was made possible through the joint work of the Coordination Headquarters, the Joint Center under the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Armed Forces (AFU), the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ombudsman’s Office, the Commissioner for Persons Missing in Special Circumstances, the State Emergency Service, and other security and defense institutions.

The Coordination Headquarters expressed gratitude to the International Committee of the Red Cross for its assistance and thanked the Ukrainian servicemen who transported the bodies to specialized examination facilities.

The last previous exchange took place on Sept. 18, when Ukraine received the remains of another 1,000 servicemen.

During earlier talks in Istanbul, Ukraine and Russia agreed to repatriate the bodies of fallen soldiers on a “6,000 for 6,000” basis.

The first exchange took place on June 11, when 1,212 bodies of defenders who had died in the east and south of the country, as well as in Russia’s Kursk region were returned, with another 1,200 on June 13, 1,200 more on June 14, and 1,000 on Aug. 19.

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The Ministry of Internal Affairs said that Russia often deliberately complicates the identification process by transferring severely damaged corpses, which on occasions have included the bodies of Russian troops. Despite the challenges, the repatriation and identification of those who have fallen in the defense of Ukraine are considered one of Kyiv’s most essential and important if difficult missions.