Photo: istpravda.com.ua
As part of the repatriation programme, the bodies of 501 defenders who gave their lives for the freedom and independence of Ukraine were returned to Ukraine. Among them are 382 Defenders who were killed in the fierce battles near Avdiivka, 56 soldiers from the Bakhmut sector, 45 from the Maryinka sector, 6 from the Vuhledar sector and 4 Defenders who fell at the Zaporizhzhia front. The bodies of 7 soldiers killed in the Luhansk region and 1 body that was in a morgue in Russia were also returned.
This operation was made possible through the coordination and cooperation of many state and international agencies. The key participants in the repatriation process included the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the Joint Centre of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights and other representatives of the security and defence sector. The support of the International Committee of the Red Cross played a special role in the return of the bodies of the fallen, and the Committee was thanked for its assistance.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine are transporting the repatriated bodies to designated state institutions. Later, law enforcement officials and forensic experts will work to identify the fallen heroes, after which the bodies will be handed over to their families for a decent burial.
This was reported by the press service of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
