Ukraine has recovered the bodies of 563 fallen defenders, - Headquarters on Prisoner Affairs

Ukraine has recovered the bodies of 563 fallen defenders, - Headquarters on Prisoner Affairs

Ukraine has succeeded in returning the bodies of 563 fallen soldiers. Among them are 320 Heroes who died in Donetsk and 89 who perished in the battles for Bakhmut.

Additionally, more than 150 defenders, whose bodies were in Russian morgues, are being returned to Ukraine. This was reported by the Coordination Headquarters for Handling Prisoners of War.

"As a result of repatriation efforts, 563 bodies of fallen Defenders have been returned to Ukraine. Specifically, it was possible to repatriate 320 bodies of Defenders who died on the Donetsk front, and 89 fallen soldiers from the Bakhmut area. Additionally, 154 bodies were returned from morgues located within the Russian territory," the statement said.

The return of the bodies of the Heroes was made possible thanks to the interaction of the staff of the Coordination Headquarters for Handling Prisoners of War with the United Center of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Office of the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights, the Secretariat of the Commissioner for Persons Missing Under Special Circumstances, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (CIMIC), the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, and other representatives of the Security and Defence Sector of Ukraine.

The Coordination Headquarters also expressed special gratitude for the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

"The Armed Forces of Ukraine will transport the repatriated bodies and remains to designated state institutions. Representatives of law enforcement agencies and forensic experts will establish the identities of the deceased," the Coordination Headquarters added.