Ukraine has completed the process of returning the bodies of the deceased from the conflict zone, announced the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War
According to the latest data, within the framework of agreements reached during negotiations in Istanbul, an additional 1,245 bodies have been returned to the Ukrainian side, marking the end of the repatriation efforts for this stage. Since the commencement of these agreements, Ukrainian experts have received a total of 6,057 bodies of military personnel and civilians who died for various reasons as a result of military actions and armed conflict. The Coordination Headquarters reports that the repatriation process was carried out in close cooperation with international partners and volunteers. The final stage focused on identification and medical examinations, which will continue in the coming days. According to official information, today the final phase of the repatriation procedures took place. An additional 1,245 bodies, claimed by the Russian side to belong to Ukrainian citizens and servicemen who died in the combat zone, have been delivered to Ukraine. The bodies were returned through coordinated logistical routes that ensured no violations of international legal norms. It is emphasized that the identification of the repatriated will be conducted jointly by law enforcement investigators and experts from the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and international partners. They will carry out necessary medical and genetic tests to accurately establish the identities of the deceased. This is a crucial step for further reintegration processes and for locating the relatives and loved ones of those who have died. The backstory of this cooperation includes tense negotiations in Istanbul that lasted several months. On June 15, a new stage of repatriation took place: approximately 1,200 bodies were returned to Ukraine, marking the completion of the first, more extensive phase. During this period, railway routes were used for transporting the bodies, whereas after this stage, logistics transitioned to road transportation. This is an extremely important event for Ukrainian society, which seeks to learn the truth about the fate of the missing and to ensure proper honoring of their memory. At the same time, the process of identification and return of bodies is complex and sensitive, as each one represents not only a human life story but also evidence of the scale and consequences of the war. Ukraine expresses gratitude to all participants involved in this work and hopes for further improvement of mechanisms for returning and searching for the remaining missing persons.