Ukrainian police officers will visit Japan soon to assist in identifying human remains. The news comes as part of a cooperative effort that reflects Japan’s duties to respond to disasters and its ongoing close relationship with Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities report that nearly 3,000 unidentified bodies were counted in March, and the war’s progression makes ongoing identifications likely. The initiative paused during winter snows and is accelerating again with the arrival of spring.
A dozen Ukrainian officers are slated to arrive in Tokyo on July 10, following a request from Ukraine to the Japanese embassy. This development is described by the Development Program of the United Nations, with confirmation from Kyodo News. A representative of Japan’s National Police Agency stated that Japan has substantial experience in large-scale autopsies and believes international cooperation is valuable. The visit will involve personnel from the National Police Agency’s Scientific Police Institute, a Tokyo police station, and offices in Fukushima Prefecture. Ukrainian investigators will receive hands-on training in autopsy procedures, evidence collection, and DNA analysis. NHK television notes that the instruction aims not only to improve examination techniques but also to assist in assembling evidence related to alleged war crimes attributed to Russia.
This seismic shift echoes past disasters in Japan, such as the Kobe earthquake of 1995 or the 2011 tsunami that inundated the Fukushima region and the nuclear plant incident. In response to those events, Japanese police deployed about 25,000 officers across Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima, conducting 15,830 autopsies within six months. The approach demonstrated high effectiveness, with a reported 99.7% success rate in identifications. Authorities indicate that the most successful method relied on physical property and documentation checks in about 88.6% of cases, followed by dental analysis at 7.9%, fingerprinting at 2.4%, and DNA analysis at 1.1%. Kyodo News also reported that as time wore on, identification became more challenging, leading police to create a DNA database from samples provided by families of the missing and to release publicly detailed facial reconstructions.
psychological management
From the outset, Ukrainian personnel in Japan will face psychological management needs, both for those who lost loved ones in the war and for police officers tasked with conducting mass autopsies. The program emphasizes mental health support and resilience as a critical component of effective collaboration.
The collaboration between Ukraine and Japan underscores a strong bilateral relationship. Japan remains a steadfast ally for Ukraine in Europe, while maintaining neutral stances toward other major powers. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Kyiv ahead of hosting the G7 summit in Hiroshima, an engagement that reinforced ties between Tokyo and Kyiv. Ukraine’s leadership has emphasized the importance of continued international cooperation in the face of aggression, aiming to strengthen alliances and expand practical support for its efforts. The broader context includes discussions about regional security and the role of Western partnerships in shaping responses to the ongoing conflict. The possibility of a NATO presence in Asia has been debated, a scenario that would carry significant geopolitical implications for Japan and its relations with neighboring powers.