The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
The State Logistics Operator of the Ministry of Defense is launching, for the first time, the procurement of systems for collecting biological samples from servicemembers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on December 17.
“These DNA kits are a key tool for identifying the fallen, searching for the missing, and establishing the identities of unidentified bodies. Within the procurement, it is planned to purchase 150,000 kits for a total amount of 37.8 million hryvnias”, — the statement said.
It is noted that the purchased systems will be used to collect biological samples with subsequent formation of a genomic registry of servicemembers.
The Ministry of Defense emphasized that such a registry is critically important in wartime — it significantly reduces identification timeframes and ensures legally confirmed results for the families of defenders.
“All genomic information will be stored in accordance with the requirements of the Law of Ukraine ‘On State Registration of Human Genomic Information’ — in specially equipped conditions with guarantees of protection, integrity, and long-term data storage”, — the Ministry of Defense stated.
The kits themselves meet modern safety and quality standards: they ensure a simple and standardized sampling process, are suitable for transportation and long-term storage, and the obtained results have full legal force.
The Ministry of Defense noted that systematic collection of biological samples is an international practice: in most civilized countries, this is a basic approach that enables accurate and timely identification of servicemembers.
“Genetic expertise not only helps families receive confirmed answers about the fate of their loved ones, but also plays an important role in documenting the events of the war, preserving historical memory, and strengthening the state system of accounting and identification”, — the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine concluded.
