The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
Families of Ukrainian Defenders often contact the Coordination Headquarters with the question of whether it is possible to identify a prisoner of war if their face is concealed in online videos by a balaclava or other means. The Headquarters explained how to act in such cases and what to pay attention to.
This is stated in an explanation by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
Is it possible to recognize a person without seeing the face
As noted by the Coordination Headquarters, families often recognize their loved ones in videos by indirect signs — voice, body build, manner of movement, or behavior. This is precisely why questions arise as to whether such signs are sufficient to identify a servicemember.
Explanation be the coordination headquarters
Head of the Secretariat of the Coordination Headquarters Bohdan Okhrimenko emphasized that in such situations it is important not to draw independent conclusions and not to spread unverified information. Families are advised to contact the Coordination Headquarters directly and provide all available information for professional verification.
The Headquarters stress that identification of prisoners of war is carried out comprehensively — using all available data and official procedures.
