The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine launched an online resource for identifying bodies by tattoos
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine has developed a new online section “Identification by Tattoo” for determining the identities of people who went missing under special circumstances. The resource aims to help in identifying unidentified bodies delivered to controlled territory as part of repatriation activities.
The new service, placed in the “Search” category on the “Single Window for Citizens” portal, provides users access to sketches of tattoos collected from unidentified bodies. The catalog is regularly updated and includes the ability to search by various parameters such as the category of the tattoo, its type, location on the body, and description.
To use the resources, you need to authorize on the portal, select the “Search” category, and go to the “Identification by Tattoo” section. Each sketch is accompanied by detailed information, including its number, category, type, the location of the tattoo, and the date added. For example, “The tattoo is located on the left shoulder in the form of a Roman legionnaire’s helmet.”
If you recognize a tattoo similar to the one a missing relative had while viewing the catalog, the Ministry of Internal Affairs recommends contacting a representative via the hotline 1698 or sending a message to the email address [email protected]. The message should include the applicant’s surname, name, and patronymic, contact phone number, details about the missing person, the sketch number, and, if possible, attach photos of the missing person’s tattoos.
As of now, the unidentified bodies that Ukraine received from the Russian Federation vary in condition due to their prolonged presence in open areas. The war has complicated repatriation processes, and examinations do not always yield immediate results. Submitting a missing person application through the “Single Window for Citizens” portal can significantly assist investigators in identification.
| Total number of missing persons | Month and year |
|---|---|
| Over 60,000 | April 2025 |
| Official battlefield losses | 55,000 |
