Grim but essential changes: Automated system for storing Ukrainian service members’ samples of biological material

The Center for the Transformation of Defence Resource Management Processes, in coordination with the Health Department of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the Command of the Logistics Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has automated the tracking and storage of biological material samples collected from military personnel. The system became operational in April 2025 and is expected to include 225,000 biological samples by the end of the year.

What has been done?

Automation of two processes has been established:

• Accounting for test kits used to collect biological material samples.
• Tracking of biological material samples collected from service members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

How does it function in practice?

Biological material samples (buccal epithelium from the oral mucosa) from military personnel are collected at their respective military units and then transferred to the Genomic Information Accounting Center (GIAC) for storage. In GIAC, the SAP system is deployed to automate the tracking processes and monitoring storage timelines.

In cases involving the search for missing-in-action service members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or the identification of the fallen, authorized personnel can request the stored biological material from the GIAC.

The changes aim to substantially streamline and expedite the investigation processes related to fallen and missing-in-action Ukrainian service members.