After difficult negotiations and with the mediation of the ICRC, Ukraine was able to return 54 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers from Olenivka. DNA examination is now underway

This was reported by the press service of the Ministry for Reintegration.

"Their identification is one of the issues that was discussed at a meeting of the Coordination Headquarters on the treatment of prisoners of war during a meeting with the relatives of the servicemen," the statement reads. 

Families are concerned about how quickly the identification process will be completed, but DNA examination in this case requires a lot of time.

"Having returned the bodies of the fallen heroes, we pass them for forensic medical examination to specialized institutions. Then the investigator reports the information about the deceased directly to the relatives. The long duration of DNA examination is connected with the investigation of other aspects of the crime in Olenivka," explained Ivan Angelin, representative of the Office of the Commissioner for Missing Persons. 

At the meeting of the Coordination Headquarters, it was agreed to take measures to speed up the process of identifying the bodies, in particular to find an opportunity to increase the number of relevant laboratories.

Photo: Donbass Realii