Overcrowded morgues in Ukraine delay identification of fallen soldiers
Reuters reports Ukrainian morgues are overwhelmed as forensic labs face months-long delays in identifying soldiers, highlighting the scale of losses in the conflict.
Ukrainian forensic laboratories are operating at the edge of their capacity as the flow of dead soldiers overwhelms the system, Reuters reported, citing experts and Interior Minister Igor Klimenko.
The volume of bodies has left morgues overcrowded, and the process of identification is dragging on for months. In some cases, it can take up to 14 months before remains are confirmed. Klimenko acknowledged that staff are working most of the day but still cannot keep up with the demand.
Since 2022, the number of DNA analysis laboratories in Ukraine has nearly doubled, growing from nine to twenty. Yet, according to officials, even this expansion has proven insufficient. Sources told the agency that specialists are stunned by the number of bodies arriving, particularly during exchanges with Russia.
Reuters underlined that the packed morgues and lengthy queues for forensic tests starkly illustrate the scale of Ukrainian losses, with the steady stream of remains serving as a grim reminder of the toll.