The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine reports another alarming aspect of the process of repatriating the bodies of those killed as a result of the armed invasion by the Russian Federation
According to the head of the department, Ihor Klymenko, during the latest operations to return bodies to the country, the Russian side has handed over not only their military personnel but also mixed bodies with remains of Ukrainian combatants. This fact causes not only deep concern but also highlights how complicated and lengthy the identification process is, especially in the context of the ongoing effort to establish the identity of each individual who perished in this brutal war. In his Telegram channel, the Minister emphasizes that Russia cynically and deliberately complicates this work. According to him, in recent repatriations, Ukrainian experts received bodies that were severely damaged, with body parts stored in different bags, and in some cases, the remains of a single person were returned in various locations and at different times. This significantly complicates identification, as each fragment requires individual attention, careful examination, and forensic analysis. Klymenko underscores that this process is painstaking and exhausting for Ukrainian specialists. Laboratory experts and investigators work at the limit of their capabilities, often repeating the same analyses to confirm identities. It is important to note that identifying bodies is a complex and lengthy procedure due to the extent of damage and fragmentary remains. Furthermore, it is clear that Russia intentionally makes this work more difficult, prolonging procedures and creating uncertainty for the families of the deceased. The Ministry of Defense reports that after each repatriation, Ukrainian experts begin a meticulous process of dissection and verification of bodies. This includes careful inspection, DNA testing, and analysis of all details to ensure the most accurate identification of each victim. At the same time, the condition of the bodies often remains extremely difficult—remains are returned in a tattered state, frequently in different bags and scattered across various stages of the repatriation process. There are cases where remains of the same individual are returned multiple times, further complicating the work of experts. The Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs stresses that Ukrainian specialists are doing everything possible—and impossible—to accelerate this process and to return the identity of each person as quickly as possible. In challenging conditions, laboratories are equipped with modern technology, and expert groups work according to strict protocols to avoid errors and ensure the most precise results. However, the main problem remains time—each delay causes additional suffering and pain for the families of the deceased, who desperately want to see the remains of their loved ones and to have the opportunity for a dignified burial. The head of the Ministry emphasizes that for the Ukrainian authorities, each individual is not just a statistic but a life deserving of respect and proper honor. "We understand the pain and hopes of the families. We are doing everything possible to speed up the identification process, but at the same time, we fear that the ability to do this complex work quickly and without errors becomes more difficult with each major repatriation. Perhaps this is the goal of Russia—to complicate this procedure, prolong it, and try to undermine our capacity to quickly and accurately establish the truth," Klymenko stated. The background of these events is quite dramatic. On June 16, the Ukrainian side received, as part of negotiations with Moscow, an additional 1,245 bodies of those killed. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced that the repatriation process under the Istanbul agreements is nearly complete—more than six thousand bodies have been returned. This marked an important milestone in the difficult negotiations that began on June 2 in Istanbul, where Ukraine and Russia agreed on the transfer of "six thousand bodies for six thousand" and on exchanging seriously injured and young military personnel. This agreement sparked widespread discussion about the condition of the bodies and the possibility of their covert identification. President Volodymyr Zelensky openly stated that out of more than six thousand bodies, only about 15% are currently identified, according to the agreement. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022, Ukraine has already returned 15,801 bodies of the dead, with nearly 9,744 as of May 2025. This means that hundreds of families are still waiting for answers— for their loved ones’ names and faces—undoubtedly posing a challenge not only for forensic experts but for the entire state system that is doing its utmost to ensure the lawful and dignified return and commemoration of each human sacrifice.