As a result of the ongoing conflict initiated by Russia, Ukrainian defenders continue to be captured or go missing. Families of those unaccounted for and captured will now receive official notifications in a new format, reports 24brussels.
From now on, families of military personnel who have died, been captured, or gone missing under special circumstances will receive clear official information within specified timeframes, following changes made by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense to Order No. 280.
Changes in Notification Procedures
Upon confirming details regarding a capture or disappearance, the commander of the military unit will issue an official notification including all known circumstances.
This document is to be submitted to the relevant Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support (TCSC) within one day.
It is prohibited for the unit commander or military unit to notify families directly; this will only be done by representatives of the TCSC after verification and documentation.
The notification will contain:
- Full name, date of birth, position, rank, presence of a combat veteran certificate, and DNA material status of the serviceman;
- Type, date, and time of the last contact with the military;
- Photos or videos from the location of disappearance (if available);
- Information about witnesses and their testimonies;
- Contact details for the unit for further family communication;
- If the military has died: location and time of death, cause of death, and whether it was service-related, along with an assessment of loyalty to the oath;
- If the defender was captured or went missing: date, location, and circumstances of disappearance or capture;
- Details of personal belongings and contacts of the responsible person for their return. Items will be transferred with an act, a copy of which the family will receive along with the official notification;
- A personal directive (if available) in the event of death, specifying individuals to receive a one-time assistance payment and the TCSC and SP office to which this document was submitted.
What Families of Missing and Captured Individuals Will Receive
Families should receive from the TCSC:
- A written notification containing verified facts;
- Clarification on benefits, payments, and the process for their application;
- Contact information for the unit for further communication.
The new format of notifications for the families of the missing, captured, and deceased defenders will be implemented shortly.
For inquiries regarding the new notification format, families can reach out to the hotline of the public organization “PATRIOT GROUP” at 0 800 339 247. During the weekends, they may send messages via Viber and Telegram at (095) 896-04-21.
The Ukrainian Parliament is planning to adopt changes to the Civil Code, allowing individuals reported missing in connection with military actions or armed conflict to be declared deceased by a court two years after the cessation of hostilities. The draft law has been supported in its first reading by 262 deputies.
