Ukraine returns bodies of 563 fallen soldiers

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reports.

According to the Coordination Center, 320 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers killed in the Donetsk sector have been repatriated. Also, the bodies of 89 fallen soldiers from the Bakhmut sector and 154 bodies of soldiers from morgues in Russia were returned.

"The fallen defenders were returned thanks to the cooperation of the staff of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War with the Joint Center of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Office of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, the Secretariat of the Commissioner for Persons Missing in Special Circumstances, the Ukrainian Armed Forces (Central Military Command), the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, and other representatives of the security and defense sector of Ukraine," the statement says. 

The Coordination Center added that the International Committee of the Red Cross also assisted in the return of the bodies.

Ukraine's Armed Forces will transport the repatriated bodies and remains to designated state institutions. After that, law enforcement officials and forensic experts will identify the victims.

• On October 18, the bodies of 501 fallen defenders were returned to Ukraine as a result of repatriation activities.