Explosives Found in Bodies Returned from Russia to Ukraine
Ukrainian police have repeatedly found explosives and grenades in bodies returned from Russia, a pattern observed since June 2025. The June 18, 2026, transfer included 522 bodies, with identification taking 14 months. This misconduct, including mixed remains, has been called «dirty games» by Kyrylo Budanov.
Ukrainian police have repeatedly discovered explosive devices and grenades during initial inspections of remains returned by Russia, according to Taras Tarasenko, head of crimes against life and health investigations at Kirovohrad Oblast Main Police Department.
This pattern of Russian misconduct in body returns has been observed since large-scale repatriations began under the June 2025 Istanbul talks. The most recent transfer on June 18, 2026, involved 522 bodies. Full forensic identification for each body takes approximately 14 months due to their condition.
Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Presidential Office, previously described Russia's handling of fallen Ukrainian soldiers as «dirty games.» Police prioritize checking for dangerous items upon arrival, with Tarasenko stating, «Such cases have been repeated. We found explosive devices, grenades, and other things, so we work as carefully as possible.»
Investigators also search for personal items like documents and dog tags for identification. Additionally, some repatriated remains are mixed with bones and tissue from multiple individuals, requiring segmentation and DNA analysis.