August M
The human cost of the war in Ukraine is becoming increasingly visible beyond the battlefield. New details reveal the scale of loss, with both sides continuing a grim routine.
Officials say the process highlights not only the intensity of the fighting but also the challenges faced long after combat ends, reports The Moscow Times.
Ongoing exchanges
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is helping facilitate the return of bodies between Russia and Ukraine, according to The Moscow Times.
Director-General Pierre Krahenbuhl said around 1,000 bodies are exchanged each month between the two sides.
“We are there facilitating this in our role of neutral intermediary,” he said while speaking in Geneva.
These exchanges remain one of the few consistent outcomes of diplomatic efforts linked to the conflict.
Scale of loss
Krahenbuhl said the scale of casualties has been striking during his recent visit to Ukraine.
“There are thousands and thousands of bodies that remain unidentified that are stored in these forensic institutions,” he said.
Staff are working daily to identify the dead and provide answers to families still waiting for news.
He described the process as a “gruelling task” for those involved.
Human toll
According to the ICRC, the number of unidentified remains is far higher than seen in many recent conflicts.
“Those are numbers that we haven’t seen in this scale in recent years in conflicts,” Krahenbuhl said.
The burden on forensic teams continues to grow as fighting persists.
Limited progress
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, prisoner and body exchanges remain among the only tangible results of negotiations.
Such exchanges had already been taking place before formal talks began, but continue to serve as rare points of cooperation.
The process underscores the lasting human impact of the war, even as front-line fighting continues.
Sources: The Moscow Times, ICRC
