**Ukraine Repatriates 909 Fallen Soldiers**
In a significant effort, Ukraine has successfully recovered and repatriated the bodies of 909 soldiers who lost their lives in the ongoing conflict against Russia. The news was announced by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War on May 16.
The bodies were retrieved from various regions across Ukraine, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kharkiv oblasts, as well as from morgues in Russia. This operation was a collaborative effort involving several government agencies, including the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Interior Ministry, the State Emergency Service, and the Armed Forces.
The headquarters expressed gratitude to the International Committee of the Red Cross for its assistance in this endeavor. The identification process is currently underway, with law enforcement officials working alongside expert institutions from the Interior Ministry to confirm the identities of the fallen soldiers as soon as possible.
**A Grim Reality: Ukraine’s Humanitarian Toll**
This repatriation effort highlights the devastating human cost of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, over 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed on the battlefield since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Furthermore, nearly 380,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been injured during this period, with thousands more reported missing or being held captive by Russian forces.
In contrast, Ukraine reports that Russia has lost approximately 971,690 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, according to the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. These staggering numbers paint a grim picture of the humanitarian toll exacted by this conflict and underscore the need for peace efforts.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
