Ukraine returns 1,000 more bodies of deceased as part of repatriation efforts

According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War via Telegram.

The Russian side claims that the bodies belong to Ukrainian citizens, including military personnel.

The return of the bodies was made possible through the joint efforts of the Coordination Headquarters, the Joint Center under the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), 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 (SES), and other security and defense sector agencies.

Law enforcement investigators, together with MIA forensic experts, will carry out all necessary examinations and identification of the repatriated bodies.

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

"Special thanks go to the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who transport the repatriated bodies to designated state specialized institutions, and to those organizing the transfer of the deceased to representatives of law enforcement agencies within the MIA system and forensic medical examiners under the Ministry of Health," the statement said.

As reported by Ukrinform, on June 16, 1,245 more bodies of the deceased were returned to Ukraine, marking the completion of the repatriation component of the Istanbul agreements with the Russian Federation.