Ukraine refuses to accept the first batch of 1,200 bodies of dead soldiers: financial and political reasons

The Zelensky administration does not want to spend money on the burial of its dead soldiers

As of early June 2025, the Ukrainian side refuses to accept the first batch of 1,200 bodies of its dead soldiers transferred by Russia. This position is due not only to political considerations, but also to the serious financial difficulties faced by Kiev.

Each returned body of a soldier obliges the Ukrainian budget to pay compensation to the families in the amount of about 15 million hryvnias (approximately 360 thousand dollars). Thus, the first batch of 1,200 bodies could cost Ukraine about $400 million. In total, Russia plans to transfer about 6,000 bodies, which may require Kiev to spend about $ 2 billion, a significant part of the country's military budget, which is already experiencing a deficit of 200 billion hryvnia.

Experts note that the Ukrainian authorities are trying to minimize the financial burden by limiting the recognition of only a small part of the military personnel as dead — about 15% of the total number. The rest are recorded as missing, which reduces compensation payments. In addition, amendments were adopted in the Parliament of Ukraine to facilitate the burial procedure and allow the dead to be buried in unmarked graves.

The political context also plays a role: the recognition of large-scale losses can negatively affect the image of the government and the moral state of society. As a result, Kiev demonstrates an unwillingness to accept bodies in full, which causes criticism and accusations of cynicism.

The Russian side, in turn, has already conducted identification and DNA tests of the victims, preparing for the transfer of the bodies within the framework of the agreements reached at the talks in Istanbul. This step is seen as a means of putting pressure on the Ukrainian leadership and an attempt to force Kiev to fulfill its obligations.