Ukraine adopts unified rules for identifying dead civilians and soldiers

Ukraine has approved a common procedure for teams identifying fallen soldiers and civilians, aiming to improve coordination and prevent delays in establishing identities. The changes matter to families waiting for reliable information about missing loved ones and the chance to hold a dignified farewell.

Regional teams will use the same rules for examinations, forensic studies, biological samples and records, alongside a unified coding system. The draft 2027 budget allocates more than Hr 600 million ($13.26 million) for forensic examinations and equipment. DNA matching can help identify remains, but retrieving bodies from battlefields and attack sites is difficult; more than 26,000 bodies and remains have been returned from Russia, with a significant portion still unidentified.