The bodies of another 563 fallen defenders have been repatriated to Ukraine, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said.

"In particular, it became possible to repatriate the bodies of 320 defenders who fell on the Donetsk axis and 89 fallen fighters from the Bakhmut axis. Also, 154 bodies were returned from the morgues on the territory of Russia," the Coordination HQ said on the Telegram channel on Friday.

The fallen defenders were repatriated due to cooperation of the Coordination HQ with the Joint Center of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Interior Ministry of Ukraine, the Office of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, the Secretariat of the Commissioner for Persons Missing under Special Circumstances, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU, the Central Department of Civil-Military Cooperation), the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, and other representatives of the security and defense sector of Ukraine.

"Special thanks to the International Committee of the Red Cross for its assistance," it said in the message.

The AFU will transport the repatriated bodies and remains to certain government agencies. Law enforcers and forensic experts will identify the deceased.