MoD streamlines procedures for documenting information on fallen, missing in action, and captured service members
The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine continues to improve the system for protecting the rights of service members and their families. In particular, the Ministry of Defence has streamlined the procedures for military units to document cases of death (killed in action), capture, or missing in action of service members during combat operations.
The relevant Order was drafted by the Central Department for the Protection of Service Members’ Rights. The document approves amendments to the Instruction on the Organization of Personnel Records within the Ministry of Defence system.
The Order further supplements and organizes the list of information to be submitted by military units to the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers (TRSSCs), as well as the information the TRSSCs shall provide to service members’ families.
From now on, if there is no evidence of a criminal offense, investigations will no longer be required for cases of service members who are missing in action, captured or held hostage, interned, or died (killed in action).
In such cases, the commander of the military unit is empowered to issue an order based on the circumstances of the event without conducting an investigation.
Implementing this document will significantly reduce the workload of unit headquarters, expedite case registration, and enable families to be informed more promptly about the circumstances involving their relatives. It will also decrease technical errors in documenting cases of service members who are missing in action, captured or held hostage, interned, or died (killed in action).
“This decision addresses the real challenges encountered daily by both military units and the families of our defenders. We understand the importance of ensuring that the process of documenting and transmitting relevant information is clear and prompt. That is why the Order was developed at the request of the President’s Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Military Personnel and Their Families, with whom we cooperate closely to enhance the legal protection of our service members,” said Colonel Ruslan Tsyhankov, Head of the Central Department for the Protection of Service Members’ Rights.