Russia returning bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers in increasingly deplorable condition

Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko stated this during a briefing on June 23.

"Russia hands over the bodies of our fallen soldiers in mutilated, putrid condition, violating body storage protocols," he said.

According to him, in some cases the remains are so fragmented that multiple DNA tests are needed, and a single body may consist of dozens of separate parts.

"In 20 cases this year, the remains of Ukrainians were mixed with the bodies or body parts of Russian soldiers," the minister said.

He also noted that Russia has offered no public explanation for why the bodies of Russian soldiers are being returned to Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has published documents, badges, patches, and personal belongings of Russian soldiers, "so Russians can see their state abandons its own, both the living and the dead."

The minister added that the Russian bodies will be buried after the necessary examinations.

"We’ve contacted the International Commission on Missing Persons to help organize DNA sample collection from Russians in EU countries. We’ll soon release a list of collection points and registration instructions. And we’ll keep publishing information about unidentified bodies in Russian uniform," Klymenko said.

Vitaliy Povstyanyi, head of the Main Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination, said the deterioration in the condition of returned Ukrainian bodies has been ongoing for some time.

"Given the nature of the fighting, the high number of fragmented remains, and explosive injuries, it’s impossible to even estimate an identification timeline. The bodies arrive in such horrific condition that we sometimes have to retake samples," he said, stressing that Russia appears to be deliberately violating storage temperature standards.

• Another exchange took place on June 16, during which 1,245 bodies were returned to Ukraine.
• It also became clear that Russia included the remains of its own soldiers among the bodies of fallen Ukrainian defenders.
• On June 18, Interior Minister Klymenko confirmed Ukraine had received over 6,000 bodies. Some were Russian soldiers. Identification could take up to 14 months. Afterward, Ukraine will return the Russian bodies for burial.