DNA Analysis Confirms Identities of Most Ukrainian POWs Among Remains Returned by Russia

A forensic examination has confirmed that the majority of the remains transferred to Ukraine by Russia correspond to Ukrainian prisoners of war, according to DNA matches with their relatives.

The bodies were among those allegedly recovered from the crash site of an Il-76 military transport aircraft in Russia’s Belgorod region. Ukraine has not received definitive proof that these individuals were indeed on board the aircraft.

In December, Ukraine received 62 sets of remains from Russia, which claimed they belonged to Ukrainian POWs who perished in the Il-76 crash.

Bohdan Okhrimenko, head of the Secretariat of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, stated that preliminary DNA testing has confirmed matches for nearly 50 of them. However, he noted that Ukraine has not received conclusive evidence that these individuals were actually aboard the aircraft.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) continues to investigate the incident, seeking to verify the circumstances surrounding the crash and the identities of those on board.

Earlier, on January 24, 2024, a Russian Il-76 military transport aircraft crashed in the Belgorod region. Russia initially claimed that the plane was carrying 65 Ukrainian POWs for a scheduled prisoner exchange and accused Ukraine of shooting it down.

Ukraine did not confirm the presence of POWs on the flight. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that the aircraft was a legitimate military target and was transporting ammunition for Russian forces.

Following the incident, Ukraine called for an international investigation, but Russia refused to present evidence to the UN Security Council supporting its claim that prisoners of war were on board.

Later, Ukrainian officials, including Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets and Defense Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov, stated that Russia had not provided proof of the presence of prisoners on the aircraft. Despite Moscow’s claims, independent verification remains unavailable.