Russia’s plans may include strikes against Ukraine’s allies, Poland says

Ukraine received the remains of 252 war victims on September 17, according to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. This repatriation stands as one of the few operational channels of communication between Kyiv and Moscow amidst Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine. These returns provide families of the deceased an opportunity to identify and lay to rest their loved ones.

The Russian authorities claim these individuals were Ukrainian nationals, comprising both military personnel and civilians. Ukrainian authorities will conduct forensic investigations and identification processes to confirm the identities of the returned bodies, the Coordination Headquarters announced. The repatriation process involved cooperation between Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the Security Service of Ukraine's Joint Center, Armed Forces, Interior Ministry, Ombudsman's Office, Missing Persons Commissioner's Secretariat, State Emergency Service, and other relevant security and defense structures.

The International Committee of the Red Cross provided support for the repatriation efforts. Ukrainian military personnel are currently transporting these bodies to designated state facilities, where forensic experts will carry out necessary examinations and identification procedures. This repatriation follows a similar return of 261 bodies on August 13.

The acceleration of returned fallen Ukrainian soldiers since the resumption of peace talks in early 2025 has turned repatriation operations into one of the few remaining areas of humanitarian cooperation between Ukraine and Russia in the midst of the war.