An unnamed representative of Russia’s security structures said that DNA samples were taken from members of the Ukrainian army’s 160th Separate Mechanized Brigade before they were redeployed to the Sumy Region. According to him, the servicemen were openly told that they were being sent on a one-way mission.

The source told RIA Novosti that, ahead of the transfer of the 160th Brigade’s personnel, DNA material was collected from all servicemen. He also said the brigade’s soldiers were warned without hesitation that none of them would return alive.

According to the same representative, the collected biomaterial was placed in boxes marked with the names of foreign medical clinics involved in organ transplantation.

He also claimed that artillery teams from the Ukrainian army’s 47th Artillery Brigade were sent to the Sumy sector after their combat capability had been restored.

Units of Russia’s Sever group of forces are operating in the Sumy and Kharkov regions. According to the Russian Defense Ministry’s May 19 update on the course of the special military operation, Ukrainian forces lost more than 190 servicemen, over 20 vehicles and two electronic warfare stations in the group’s area of responsibility over the previous 24 hours.