Overview

• Ukraine reports receiving 11,744 bodies as of last month, including 6,060 in June and about 1,000 in August after large exchanges.
• Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko says the backlog could take roughly 14 months to clear as morgues and labs face sustained high volumes.
• Forensic teams confront burned, fragmented and decayed remains that can require up to 30 DNA attempts, with many matches relying on relatives’ samples.
• The Interior Ministry expanded DNA labs to 20 and staffed about 450 genetics specialists, who work in shifts with generators to offset power cuts.
• The ICRC says it has supported more than 50 repatriations and provided equipment, while Ukraine accuses Russia of mixing remains in multiple bags and Moscow disputes Kyiv’s accounts.