Ukraine to speed up identification of fallen defenders after 26,000 bodies repatriated

October 2, 2026 at 10:35 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Ukraine will establish an interagency group to expedite identification of fallen defenders, Presidential Office Head Kyrylo Budanov announced on Oct. 2. More than 26,000 bodies and remains have been repatriated, but a significant portion remain unidentified. The government is expected to adopt necessary regulations in the coming days.

Key Facts

More than 26,000 bodies and remains of fallen soldiers have been repatriated to Ukraine, but a significant portion remain unidentified.
An interagency group will be created to handle problematic cases related to identification of the dead.
The government is expected to adopt all necessary regulatory decisions in the near future.
Forensic medical examination bureaus, particularly in the regions, will be reviewed.
Additional international capacity will be engaged to conduct DNA testing.

Identification Plan

Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President, announced the plan on Friday, Oct. 2, after chairing a meeting of the Coordination Council on protecting the rights of war veterans and their families, as well as families of fallen defenders, prisoners of war and missing persons. The plan includes setting up an interagency group to address challenges in identifying the dead, reviewing the work of forensic medical examination bureaus, particularly in the regions, and drawing on additional international capacity to conduct DNA testing. Budanov emphasized that establishing the name of every fallen defender is a matter of state responsibility. He said bureaucratic delays and violations of regulations in the forensic examination system are unacceptable.

Repatriation Scale

As part of repatriation efforts, more than 26,000 bodies and remains of the deceased have already been returned to Ukraine. A significant number of the dead have yet to be identified, Budanov said. The government is expected to adopt the necessary regulations in the coming days. Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets reported that the issue of identifying the bodies will be monitored by the National Security and Defense Council.

Forensic System Overhaul

Authorities plan to increase the number of forensic experts, raise their salaries, and establish specialized regional offices dedicated to identifying deceased servicemen. Budanov noted that bureaucratic delays and violations of established regulations in the forensic medical examination system are unacceptable in this case. The new interagency group will handle problematic cases related to the identification of the dead. Budanov said families must receive information about the fate of their loved ones as quickly as possible.