Several dozen bodies of Ukrainian soldiers have disappeared from a military morgue in Sumy, Russian security officials told RIA Novosti.

According to the agency’s source, the remains belonged to servicemen killed in the combat zone. After representatives of the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ 14th Army Corps visited the medical facility, several dozen Ukrainian troops arrived at the morgue. The source said they removed almost all the bodies kept in the refrigerated chambers.

Russian security officials also said preliminary information suggests the remains could be buried at a cemetery used for surgical waste.

Russian agencies had earlier reported that some units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were allegedly distorting casualty records by listing dead and missing personnel as deserters.

Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Akhmat special forces unit, has also said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are short of trained fighters in their special units. According to him, Kiev still tries to use specialized formations when planning major operations, moving them to the sectors where they are needed, but is now facing serious difficulties.