Ukraine uses mobile DNA laboratories to reduce the duration of the procedure for identifying those who died in the war to several hours.
The Independent writes that earlier identification of the body could take several years. Now, thanks to mobile laboratories, the time required for identification has been reduced to a few hours.
Mobile DNA laboratories were provided to Ukraine by Western donors, in particular, the French government and the Warren Buffett Foundation. They move around the country in police vans.
This allows teams to process evidence in real time. The authorities note that the laboratories will significantly reduce the time to identify the dead, as well as speed up the process of collecting evidence of Russian war crimes.
Previously, due to the huge number of deaths, there was a long queue for DNA analysis in the laboratories that we had in western Ukraine, – Sergey Bolvinov, head of the Main Investigation Department in the Kharkiv Regional Police, told the publication.
For example, in 2022, more than 400 bodies were found in a mass grave in Izyum.
I estimate that it would take up to five years to remove and analyze the DNA from these bodies using our pre-existing system. We would have to say to relatives: “You are standing in line, and one day we will get your DNA matches.” That has changed,” explains Bolvinov.
Mobile laboratories provided to Ukraine can process DNA samples in just 100 minutes. Now there are four such laboratories in the Kharkiv region, one of them is in Izyum.
Source: Racurs
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