Ukraine is developing a plan to accelerate the identification of deceased Ukrainians repatriated from Russia, according to Presidential Office Head Kyrylo Budanov. The initiative aims to address the significant portion of over 26,000 returned bodies that remain unidentified, a process complicated by the condition of remains and strain on forensic facilities. An interagency organization will be established to improve forensic work and secure international resources for DNA analysis.
The initiative addresses the humanitarian imperative to provide closure for families of fallen Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, while also highlighting the significant human cost of the ongoing conflict and the strain on Ukraine's forensic capabilities.
Ukraine is implementing a plan to accelerate the identification of deceased Ukrainians repatriated from Russia, a process complicated by the condition of the remains and the strain on forensic facilities. Presidential Office Head Kyrylo Budanov announced on Oct. 2 that an interagency organization will be established to review the work of forensic departments and secure additional international resources for DNA analysis. The government will also enact necessary legal and regulatory decisions to expedite these procedures.
Repatriation operations are among the few areas of continued humanitarian cooperation between Kyiv and Moscow. Since peace talks resumed in early 2025, these efforts have increased. According to Budanov, over 26,000 bodies and remains of Ukrainians have been returned, but a significant portion remain unidentified, leaving families in prolonged uncertainty.
Forensic examiners face challenges due to the condition of remains, which are often returned months or years after death, sometimes as only bone fragments or a single finger. The sheer volume of Ukrainian war dead also overwhelms morgues and staff, with hundreds of bodies sometimes arriving after a single repatriation event, which occurs approximately once a month.
While Ukraine reports the number of bodies received from Russia, it does not publish data on Russian soldiers returned to Moscow. Budanov emphasized that accelerating identification is a matter of state responsibility, ensuring families receive information about their loved ones as soon as possible.
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