Bodies of 1000 Ukrainian servicemen returned to Ukraine: what is known

Bodies of 1000 Ukrainian servicemen returned to Ukraine

What happened

Ukraine has completed a large-scale repatriation: 1000 bodies of Ukrainian servicemen have been returned to their homeland. This was reported by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
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Where and when

The repatriation activities took place on 18 September.
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Areas covered: Kursk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya.
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Which organisations have joined

We are involved in the operation to recover the bodies:

Coordination headquarters

The SSU and the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Ministry of Internal Affairs

Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights

Secretariat for Missing Persons

SES

Representatives of the forensic medical examination of the Ministry of Health

International Committee of the Red Cross
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Identification and examination

The returned bodies are currently undergoing identification procedures.
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Experts - law enforcement investigators together with expert medical institutions - will identify the victims.
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Previous cases of repatriation

On 19 August, a certain number of bodies were returned, including seriously wounded or sick servicemen.
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In July, we already carried out a similar operation - the return of almost 1,000 dead.
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16 June - 1245 bodies.
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Why it matters

Repatriation helps the families of the deceased receive confirmation and bury their loved ones with dignity.

It demonstrates the work of state structures in coordination during the war.

It increases international attention to human rights violations, as identification of bodies and verification of the circumstances of death are extremely important in the context of military law.

What's next

The examination and identification process is ongoing, including the identification of names.

Government agencies will work to speed up the process of handing over the bodies to families.

International partners can provide support or assistance with documentation and investigations.

Conclusion: The operation to recover 1,000 bodies is one of the largest actions of this scale in recent months. It underlines the importance of trust in state institutions working to preserve rights, dignity and historical justice.