Ukraine in 2025 repatriated over 10,000 fallen defenders’ bodies: latest data and repatriation process
In 2025, Ukraine conducted a large-scale effort to bring back the bodies of its fallen heroes from the combat zones.
According to official sources, representative Volodymyr Bilenko from the Search and Repatriation Department of the Civil-Military Cooperation Headquarters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that more than ten thousand bodies of soldiers had been repatriated over the course of the year, who lost their lives during active hostilities on the frontlines.
This process is extremely complex, requiring advanced technical methods and professional expertise.
The remains of the fallen arrive from various front segments, and in most cases, DNA analysis is necessary to accurately identify individuals.
Specialized software is also utilized to recognize unique individual features, which helps accelerate the identification process.
Amid these reports, there are numerous cases of cynicism during wartime — for example, instances where morgue employees were caught stealing the bodies of fallen defenders.
In the summer, important agreements were reached in Istanbul between Ukraine and Russia, enabling the repatriation of approximately six thousand bodies of deceased soldiers.
However, Ukrainian Interior Ministry officials clarified that full identification of these bodies could take up to 14 months due to complexities involved.
In August, as part of another exchange, Ukraine received an additional one thousand bodies, which, according to the Russian side, belong to Ukrainian Defense Forces personnel.
Among the repatriated are also five soldiers who died in Russian captivity.
They were included in exchange lists agreed upon in Istanbul, but due to delays from Russia, they could not be returned alive.
These events highlight both the human toll of the ongoing conflict and the meticulous efforts to honor the fallen through proper identification and repatriation.