Russia hands over another 1,000 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers for identification
Photo: transfer of the bodies of the fallen (Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War)
On November 20, Russian forces handed over another 1,000 bodies to the Ukrainian side — bodies which, according to the Russians, belong to fallen soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Identification procedures will begin shortly, according to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
“Investigators of law enforcement agencies, together with expert institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, will soon carry out all necessary examinations and conduct the identification of the repatriated bodies,” the statement said.
It is noted that the operation became possible thanks to the joint work of employees of the Coordination Headquarters, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Emergency Service, and other state institutions. Additional assistance was provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The Coordination Headquarters also expressed gratitude to the personnel of the Central Department of the Civil-Military Cooperation Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These are the people responsible for transporting repatriated bodies to state special facilities and organizing the transfer of the fallen to representatives of law enforcement and forensic medical examination services.
Ukraine awaits identification of 1,000 returned bodies (Photo: Defense Intelligence of Ukraine)
Ukraine awaits identification of 1,000 returned bodies (Photo: Defense Intelligence of Ukraine)
Ukraine awaits identification of 1,000 returned bodies (Photo: Defense Intelligence of Ukraine)
Ukraine awaits identification of 1,000 returned bodies (Photo: Defense Intelligence of Ukraine)
Ukraine awaits identification of 1,000 returned bodies (Photo: Defense Intelligence of Ukraine)
The last large-scale repatriation of bodies took place in October. On October 23, the Russians returned 1,000 bodies of individuals who may have been Ukrainian servicemen.
Before that, another exchange occurred on September 18, when Ukraine received the bodies of another 1,000 deceased citizens, including military personnel. That was the final exchange within the Istanbul agreement — under which the parties agreed to repatriate the bodies of fallen soldiers on a “6000 for 6000” basis.
It is noted that the Russians consistently and deliberately complicate the identification of the fallen — they hand over damaged bodies, remains, and destroy items that could help identify the deceased. During one exchange, the Russians even handed over dozens of their own fallen soldiers under the guise of Ukrainians.
