On June 15, 2025, Ukraine returned the bodies of another 1200 dead to its territory, among whom, according to preliminary data, were Ukrainian citizens, including military personnel. This was reported by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War on its Telegram channel. The repatriation took place within the framework of the agreements reached during the talks in Istanbul and became one of the largest operations to return remains since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

The bodies handed over by the Russian side belong to Ukrainian citizens, mostly military personnel who died on the front lines in various regions, including Kharkiv, Zaporizhia and Sumy regions. In the coming days, law enforcement agencies, together with experts from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, will conduct the necessary forensic examinations to identify the remains. The process includes DNA testing and comparison with missing persons data so that families can obtain information about the fate of their loved ones.

The repatriation was carried out with the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which provided logistics and compliance with humanitarian standards. The operation also involved the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Emergency Service and other agencies. Photos from the site of the transfer, published by the headquarters, show specialists in protective suits next to refrigerated cars marked with the emblems of the Ukrainian organization "On the Shield", which is engaged in the evacuation of the dead.

The repatriation follows efforts that began after talks in Istanbul on June 2, where the two sides agreed to return bodies and exchange prisoners of war. Ukraine has repatriated more than 4800 bodies in the past week, according to Reuters, making the current operation one of the largest in the three-year conflict.