Russia returns 522 bodies to Ukraine

As a result of repatriation efforts, Ukraine has received the bodies of 522 deceased individuals who, according to the Russian side, were Ukrainian citizens, including military personnel.

According to Ukrinform, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War stated this on Telegram.

The bodies were returned through the joint efforts of the Coordination Headquarters, the Joint Center under the Security Service of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, the Secretariat of the Commissioner for Missing Persons under Special Circumstances, the State Emergency Service, and other agencies within Ukraine's security and defense sector.

Investigators from law enforcement agencies, together with forensic experts from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, will conduct all necessary examinations and identification procedures for the repatriated bodies.

The Coordination Headquarters expressed gratitude to the International Committee of the Red Cross for its assistance.

"Special thanks also go to the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who transport the repatriated bodies to designated state specialized institutions and organize the transfer of the deceased to law enforcement representatives within the Ministry of Internal Affairs system and to forensic medical experts within the Ministry of Health system," the statement said.

As Ukrinform previously reported, on May 16, Ukraine received the bodies of 528 deceased individuals as a result of repatriation efforts.