Ukraine returns 254 bodies of fallen Ukrainian defenders

Ukraine has repatriated the bodies of 254 soldiers who died fighting against Russia's full-scale invasion.

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said this in a post on the Telegram messaging app, Ukrinform reports.

In particular, Ukraine repatriated the bodies of 221 defenders who fought in the Donetsk region, 25 fallen soldiers from the Zaporizhzhia region, four fallen defenders from the Luhansk region, and four dead soldiers whose bodies were transferred from Russian morgues.

The bodies were repatriated with the assistance of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the Ministry for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories, the commissioner for missing persons in cooperation with the Joint Center of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Directorate of Civil-Military Cooperation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and other law enforcement structures, agencies and international organizations.

Video: Ombudsman's Office

The Armed Forces of Ukraine will transport the repatriated bodies and fragments to designated state institutions.

Law enforcement officers and forensic experts will determine the exact cause of death.

After identification, the bodies will be handed over to the families for proper burial.

The bodies of 212 fallen soldiers were returned to Ukraine on May 31.

Photos: Vechirniy Kyiv