Sixty-six bodies of fallen soldiers were returned to the government-controlled territory of Ukraine on 22 December, the POW Treatment Coordination HQ has said.
"The Armed Forces of Ukraine will ensure the transportation of repatriated bodies and remains to designated state specialised institutions for transfer to law enforcement officials and forensic experts to identify the victims," it said.
The recovery of the bodies was carried out by the staff of the POW Treatment Coordination HQ in cooperation with the Joint Centre at the Security Service of Ukraine, the Interior Ministry of Ukraine (Secretariat of the Commissioner for Persons Missing in Special Circumstances), the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Central Department of Civil-Military Cooperation), the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Sumy Region, the State Border Service, as well as other representatives of the security and defence sector of Ukraine.
"We would like to thank the International Committee of the Red Cross and personally the head of the ICRC delegation, Jurg Eglin, for their assistance and important efforts," the Coordination HQ said.