Kyiv, 10 July 2023 – Amidst the escalating conflict in Ukraine, national justice institutions are facing mounting pressures and unprecedented challenges that demand innovative solutions. To bolster the National Police of Ukraine's (NPU) capabilities in handling complex forensic investigations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Japan are coordinating this important study tour. As part of the exchange, ten distinguished representatives from the NPU's forensic units will visit Fukushima and Tokyo Prefectures from 10-14 July 2023.

During the study tour, Ukrainian police representatives from Kharkiv, Sumy, Zaporizhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, Kherson and Kyiv regions will learn the intricacies of mass autopsy procedures, techniques for specimen collection, and efficient methods for conducting DNA analysis based on Japanese expertise.

Ms. Olena Ursu, UNDP Ukraine Democratic Governance Team Leader, underscored the critical importance of access to justice during wartime in preserving human rights and dignity. "We firmly believe this study tour will notably enhance the technical proficiency and expert capacities within the forensic units,” she said. “Moreover, it will equip the National Police of Ukraine to effectively confront emerging challenges and ensure access to justice for all individuals, regardless of gender, who have been impacted by the harrowing acts of war."

Speaking at the send-off ceremony, Kuninori Matsuda, Ambassador Extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine, said “This tour will be carried out to share knowledge and experience of the Japanese police force to efficiently identify victims, ensure precise preservation of evidence in crime investigation, provide support for victims and their families, as well as mental care for the officials involved in such activities," he said. "There can be no tolerance for impunity when it comes to war atrocities. Forensic investigators play a pivotal role in upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice. It is why we have decided to organize this study tour in collaboration with UNDP and the Japanese National Police,” he said. “We believe that this will help to promote human security and justice during these extremely challenging times.” 

Maksym Tsutskiridze, Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine – chief of the Chief Investigative Department expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn from the National Police of Japan. "This is a timely and highly relevant initiative, considering all the mounting challenges the National Police is facing during the full-scale war in Ukraine," he said. "It is a great honor for us to learn from our colleagues' experiences. At the same time, I am confident that our forensic investigators will share the experiences they have already gained during this period."

Background: The knowledge exchange was initiated within the project "Promotion of Human Security in Ukraine Through Responding to the Multidimensional Crisis Caused by the War," implemented by the UNDP and financed by the Government of Japan. Since the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion, as of May 2023, there have been 23,606 recorded civilian casualties in Ukraine, comprising 8,791 fatalities and 14,815 injuries, as reported by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). 

Media enquiries: Yuliia Samus, Communications Team Leader, UNDP in Ukraine; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org