Ukraine returns the bodies of 94 fallen soldiers from Russia

On Monday, November 20, Ukraine successfully repatriated the bodies of another 94 fallen defenders. 

This information was announced by the Coordination Staff on Prisoners of War Affairs, Rubryka reports.

"Today, it was possible to return the bodies (remains) of 94 defenders of Ukraine to the controlled territory," the statement said.

The repatriation of the deceased servicemen was carried out by the Coordination Staff on Prisoner of War Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Emergency Service in the Sumy region, border guards, and representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

According to the norms of International Humanitarian Law, the opposite side received the bodies of fighters who died due to armed aggression against Ukraine.

"The Armed Forces of Ukraine will ensure the transportation of repatriated bodies and remains to designated state specialized institutions for transfer to representatives of law enforcement agencies and forensic experts to establish the identities of the deceased," the staff added.

Earlier, Rubryka reported that Russia has effectively frozen the exchange of prisoners with Ukraine since the last exchange in August 2023, when Ukraine managed to return only 22 servicemen. Petro Yatsenko, the head of the press service of the Coordination Staff on Prisoner of War Affairs, stated that at this time, the reasons for the occupiers halting this process are unknown to the Ukrainian side. Still, efforts are being made to resume it. He mentioned that Ukraine has many Russian prisoners of war, and the country is ready to exchange them for its defenders.

Russia and Ukraine regularly conduct exchanges of the bodies of military personnel. Ukraine most recently returned the bodies of 50 servicemen who gave their lives in the struggle for freedom and independence.

Before that, such an exchange took place in early August when Ukraine returned the bodies of 44 fallen soldiers.

At the same time, Yurii Tarniuk, the head of the Coordination Staff, reported that Russia handed over to Ukraine the bodies of fighters officially recognized as prisoners. However, there were no reports of deterioration in their health or serious condition. This raises doubts about the quality of the work or the presence of a medical commission in the Russian Federation.

Ukraine also initiated the creation of joint medical commissions. The work of such commissions is provided for by the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War. This decision will help facilitate the exchange of prisoners with Russia.