Russia and Ukraine regularly exchange the bodies of fallen soldiers. This process is made possible through the joint efforts of Ukrainian state agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and volunteer organizations. One such organization is the search group "Platzdarm."
Since 2014, members of "Platzdarm" have been searching for the bodies of Ukrainian servicemen who perished during the war in Donbas. With the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, volunteers continued their work, locating remains along the front lines and in occupied territories. They not only recover the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers but also document the locations of their deaths, collect personal belongings, documents, and other evidence that may aid in identification. Additionally, the organization searches for the remains of deceased Russian soldiers. These remains are handed over to the Russian side as part of an exchange—in return, Ukraine receives the bodies of its fallen fighters. This process allows the families of the deceased to learn the fate of their loved ones and lay them to rest. SFG Media publishes photographs from one of these search operations conducted in the Donetsk region. The images were captured by Diego Herrera Carcedo.
Volunteers from the Ukrainian search group "Platzdarm" carry out the recovery of the remains of Russian servicemen in the Donetsk region, near the front lines. March 2, 2025.
Typically, the examination and identification of remains are carried out by forensic investigators. However, the search group "Platzdarm" has worked closely with the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for many years, obtaining special authorization from the authorities to recover remains as well as collect evidence, including documents confirming the identities of fallen soldiers.
"We do not leave any body behind—be it a Russian or a Ukrainian soldier. We recover everyone. Every recovered Russian serviceman is an opportunity to bring a Ukrainian fighter home," says Alexey Yukov, head of "Platzdarm." He emphasizes that the search group's activities are funded exclusively through donations and the personal contributions of volunteers.
"We recover the bodies of Russian soldiers, civilians who were victims of torture and execution, as well as Ukrainian servicemen who died defending the country’s independence. Death is something we face every day," says Alexey Yukov, head of "Platzdarm."
Volunteers from "Platzdarm" transport the remains of Russian servicemen by vehicle, Donetsk region.
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