Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, discussed the challenges in repatriating the bodies of deceased Ukrainian soldiers.
Klymenko emphasized that the process of returning the bodies is extremely delicate and difficult. **Russia** intentionally complicates this process by handing over the bodies in a mutilated condition. Some bodies are so fragmented that several DNA analyses are required for identification.
In 20 cases this year, the remains of Ukrainians were mixed with the bodies of Russian soldiers. “We presented the evidence publicly: documents, tags, badges, personal items. So that the truth is visible. So that the Russians see that their state abandons them not only alive but also dead,” – noted Ihor Klymenko.
Ukraine has appealed to the International Commission on Missing Persons to organize the DNA sampling process in Russians throughout the EU countries. **Experts** are working intensively to identify Ukrainian defenders.