Ukraine repatriates bodies of over 900 fallen defenders PHOTO

The bodies of 909 fallen Ukrainian defenders have been repatriated to Ukraine, following ongoing efforts by a range of institutions, including the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

The Coordination Headquarters made this announcement on its Telegram page, Caliber.Az reports. 

The fallen soldiers include those who lost their lives in the conflict zones of Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, Bakhmut, Vuhledar, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia, as well as individuals who had perished in morgues located within Russian territory.

The successful repatriation was the result of joint efforts involving several key institutions. These include the Coordination Headquarters, the Joint Center at the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Interior Ministry, the Office of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, the Secretariat of the Commissioner for Persons Missing under Special Circumstances, and the State Emergency Service, among others from the security and defense sectors.

The Coordination Headquarters expressed deep gratitude to the International Committee of the Red Cross for their support throughout the process. Special recognition was also given to the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who played a pivotal role in transporting the fallen soldiers to designated state facilities. Their efforts included overseeing the handover of the bodies to law enforcement agencies under the Interior Ministry, as well as to forensic medical experts within the Health Ministry system.

Law enforcement investigators, in collaboration with forensic institutions of the Interior Ministry, will now proceed to swiftly identify the fallen soldiers. This step is crucial in providing closure for families and ensuring proper respect for those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to Ukraine.

By Khagan Isayev