DNA Analysis Confirms Identity of Fallen Soldier's Remains Returned from Bakhmut

Identification of Mykhailo-Viktor Stselnikov

According to Главком: DNA analysis has conclusively identified the remains of serviceman Mykhailo-Viktor Stselnikov, who went missing in May 2023. His body was repatriated to Ukraine in August 2025 and will be buried in Lviv. The return of soldiers' remains is a complex and often lengthy process in the ongoing conflict.

Mykhailo-Viktor Stselnikov, known by his call sign 'Lemberg', served in the reconnaissance unit of the 3rd Mechanized Battalion of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade 'Kholodnyi Yar'. He went missing while conducting combat operations in the fiercely contested city of Bakhmut. DNA test results confirmed his identity with a 99.99% probability.

Repatriation and Aftermath

The fallen soldier's remains were returned to Ukraine over two years after his disappearance, in August 2025. The burial is planned for Lviv, approximately two weeks from the publication of this information.

• The soldier's father, Mykhailo Stselnikov, is a suspect in the murder of former Verkhovna Rada speaker Andriy Parubiy.
• The mother and son had no contact with the suspect for 27 years.

Olena Cherninka, Mykhailo-Viktor's mother, expressed her grief, stating that only 'bones' remained of her son. She shared memories of him as a healthy, successful, and patriotic man.

'Olena also published a book titled 'Lemberg: Mom, Don't Cry', which describes her experiences of losing her son.' - Olena Cherninka

This situation underscores not only a personal tragedy but also the wider, devastating impact of war on military families. The long-standing estrangement between father and son adds a further layer of complexity to an already painful grieving process. The repatriation of Mykhailo-Viktor Stselnikov's remains, though long delayed, represents a crucial step in the pursuit of closure and in honoring the memory of soldiers who gave their lives for their country.