Title: Ukrainian Military Unit Faces Growing Task of Collecting and Identifying Bodies of Fallen Soldiers
Subtitle: As casualties rise in Ukraine’s counteroffensive, “On The Shield” unit works to bring soldiers home for burial
Date: [Insert Date]
As Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces grinds on, the grim task of collecting and identifying the bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers has become even more daunting. Taras Svystun, a soldier and member of the “On The Shield” unit, is at the heart of this somber operation in the eastern Donetsk region.
“The number of bodies has increased significantly,” Mr. Svystun lamented. “Since the counteroffensive began, I’ve seen the count of dead bodies in the morgues more or less double.” The two-month-long counteroffensive has resulted in heavy casualties, largely due to the dug-in Russian defenses that the Ukrainian forces face.
Operating as a team of six, the “On The Shield” unit is responsible for collecting, identifying, and returning the bodies of fallen soldiers to their families for burial. Each day, Mr. Svystun wakes up at 5 a.m., donning a khaki T-shirt with “Evacuation 200” – the Ukrainian military code for transporting soldiers killed in battle – stenciled on the back. He then embarks on his rounds in a refrigerated truck, visiting morgues where the war’s devastating toll becomes painfully evident.
The human remains recovered from trenches, blasted landscapes, and shattered buildings are often severely damaged, making identification a challenging task. “If they don’t have a face, we cut away the clothes and look for tattoos, scars, and other signs of identity,” Mr. Svystun explained. “It’s my job to help our guys who died get home.”
The New York Times had the rare opportunity to accompany Mr. Svystun for two days as he performed his duties. While the exact numbers of casualties remain undisclosed, it is apparent that soldier deaths are increasing as piles of bodies accumulate in military morgues.
Most of the deceased soldiers retrieved by Mr. Svystun’s unit lost their lives in recent fighting. However, as Ukrainian forces make slight gains in reclaiming territory previously occupied by Russian forces, they are also recovering the bodies of soldiers who died months ago.
To aid their efforts, Ukrainian military units report missing and fallen troops to the “On The Shield” unit, sharing vital information such as names, last known locations, and identifying features. The team diligently inspects and documents each body, placing personal belongings like wallets and mobile phones in the body bags to assist in identification. Mr. Svystun captures photographs of the remains on his cellphone and uploads them to an online portal for cross-referencing with their database of missing soldiers.
During one recent trip, the remains Mr. Svystun transported were identified during the journey from the morgue to a nearby logistics center. “I’m glad he will not be in the morgue for a year and that he will not be buried as unidentified,” Mr. Svystun expressed. “One more guy will get home.”
The toll of this grim work weighs heavily on Mr. Svystun and his comrades, especially as they carry out their duties in silence, devoid of the cries for help that soldiers in pain often make. Nevertheless, the “On The Shield” unit remains resolute in their mission to bring fallen soldiers back home to their grieving families.
As Ukraine continues its struggle against Russian forces, these unsung heroes quietly perform their duties, providing solace to both the fallen soldiers’ families and a nation in mourning.
Contributor: Evelina Riabenko