The Government approves a unified procedure for interagency teams involved in identifying deceased persons
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a procedure governing the work of interagency regional teams involved in the repatriation and identification of the bodies and remains of deceased persons. Developed by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the document establishes common rules of operation and mechanisms for cooperation among the authorities and institutions involved in these processes.
Previously, there was no single comprehensive regulatory act setting out the procedure for establishing such teams, their composition and responsibilities, or the mechanisms for coordination when dealing with unidentified bodies and remains, taking into account the specific requirements of repatriation procedures. The adopted resolution establishes common rules for each stage of the process and sets out the sequence of actions for examination, forensic medical investigation and documentation of the findings.
“The priority for the Ministry of Health of Ukraine remains ensuring appropriate conditions for forensic medical examinations, preserving every important identifying feature, and facilitating the identification of each person who has died. Behind every unidentified body or fragment of human remains is a human life and a family waiting for news of their loved one. That is why every identifying feature preserved, every sample properly collected, and every examination conducted to the highest standards matters. The state’s responsibility is to do everything possible to identify each person who has died, ensure that their remains are treated with dignity, and give families the opportunity to learn what happened to their loved ones.”
The procedure establishes a unified system of coding and documentation: each body or fragment is assigned a unique code, which is used to label samples, photographs, documents and other items. The code contains no identifying information. During the examination, specialists will record features relevant to identification, including tattoos, scars, other marks, dental characteristics, signs of medical interventions, clothing, documents and personal belongings. The procedure also provides for the restoration of friction ridge patterns and the collection of fingerprints, where possible.
The document sets out the procedures for forensic medical examination of bodies, documentation of injuries, examination of teeth and skeletal remains, and collection of biological samples for molecular genetic and other analyses. For work involving fragmented remains, it provides for the inventory of anatomical fragments, assessment of their characteristics, grouping of anatomically compatible fragments and determination of the minimum number of individuals represented by the remains under examination.
Safety measures are also addressed separately. Before any packaging is opened, it must be checked for explosive devices with the involvement of explosive ordnance disposal units of the National Police or the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES). Personnel must also comply with requirements for the use of personal protective equipment.
Interagency cooperation will involve state specialised forensic medical institutions, prosecution authorities, the National Police, the Expert Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, civil-military cooperation units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the SES, and other authorised authorities and institutions.
The introduction of unified rules will ensure coordinated action by all authorities and institutions involved, proper documentation of examination findings, and preservation of information relevant to identifying the deceased.
Standardised procedures are also intended to minimise the risk of losing identifying features and evidentiary data, improve the effectiveness of interagency cooperation, uphold human rights, and ensure the humane and dignified treatment of the bodies and remains of those killed.
It is worth recalling that recently, Prime Minister of Ukraine Serhii Koretskyi held an interagency meeting with the participation of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Defence to improve the identification processes for the bodies of repatriated military personnel and civilians and strengthen coordination at every stage of identification. The meeting focused, in particular, on procedures before and after forensic medical examinations, information sharing among the services involved, regulatory arrangements, and cooperation with the families of the deceased.