the remains of 2-3% of dead Ukrainians cannot be identified

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Deputy Minister of Health and Chief Sanitary Physician of Ukraine Ihor Kuzin said that about 2-3% of the bodies of dead Ukrainians returned as part of the exchanges cannot be identified.

He spoke about this in an interview with UP.Zhyttia.

He said the remains are kept at the forensic examination office until they are identified, but the remains of 2-3% of dead Ukrainians cannot be identified.

“And those 2 to 3 percent are the cases where we can't get the DNA test results, or we received the DNA test from the deceased, but we don't have any matches. And this means either there are no relatives, or the relatives have not yet submitted their DNA,” said Ihor Kuzin.

He added that unidentified bodies are being held until matches with next of kin are recorded. He said the dead are stored in refrigerators across the country and the identification process is a lengthy process that can last more than a year.

It should be recalled that Ukraine was able to identify more than 2,800 bodies and body fragments of servicemen.