Russia accused of hindering identification of fallen Ukrainian soldiers

The return of the bodies of the deceased is one of the most difficult and important missions for Ukraine.

After each repatriation, meticulous work begins: autopsies, forensic examinations, DNA testing, and verification of every detail.

According to him, the identification process is complex and lengthy, and Russia deliberately complicates it by returning bodies in a mutilated state — often dismembered and placed in separate bags.

There have been cases where the remains of a single individual arrive in different stages of repatriation.

Recently, Russian soldiers have been found among the bodies handed over to Ukraine, mixed in with Ukrainian remains.

This may be a deliberate provocation aimed at hindering the work of experts, or simply a result of the enemy's negligence. Ukrainian specialists are identifying those remains as well.

"Our experts are working at the limit of what's possible. Every examination is carried out thoroughly, often more than once. The specialists are well-trained, the laboratories well-equipped, and the procedures well-established. The biggest challenge is time," Klymenko noted.

He emphasized that Ukraine is doing everything possible to speed up the process, understanding the expectations of families, but with each large-scale repatriation, the task becomes increasingly difficult — which, he added, may be part of Russia's cynical strategy.

Return of the bodies of the deceased

An agreement on a large-scale exchange of the bodies of fallen defenders was reached on June 2 during the second round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul. The sides agreed on a 6,000-for-6,000 format.

Today, June 16, another 1,245 bodies were returned to Ukraine. According to the Russian side, they belong to Ukrainian citizens, including military personnel.

Later the same day, Russia announced its readiness to transfer more than 2,200 additional bodies of deceased Ukrainian servicemen.