Main image by Associated Press
Around 114,000 civilians and military personnel are currently considered missing in Ukraine, while nearly 17,000 bodies remain unidentified.
This was discussed during a meeting between the leadership of the National Police of Ukraine and representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine, according to the National Police Communications Department.
“Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, police officers have documented around 200,000 war crimes. Currently, approximately 114,000 civilians and military personnel are considered missing, while another 17,000 bodies remain unidentified,” the law enforcement agency said.
Acting Head of the National Police Maksym Tsutskiridze stressed that the full-scale war has changed not only the conditions in which Ukrainian police operate, but also the nature of crime itself.
“We are seeing new methods of illicit trafficking in weapons and drugs, as well as the active use of digital technologies, cryptocurrencies, social media and messaging platforms. At the same time, the Ukrainian police have gained unique experience in documenting war crimes, applying advanced technologies and responding to new types of threats,” he said.
The acting head of the National Police noted that Ukraine highly values its cooperation with Japan and expressed interest in expanding its practical dimension.
“I am convinced that the visit of our representatives to Japan will provide additional impetus for effective cooperation between our organisations. It is important for us to study the best practices of our partners while also sharing the experience we have gained during the years of war,” he stressed.
Osamu Hattori, Chief Representative of the JICA Ukraine Office, thanked Ukrainian police officers for their service during the war and noted that the Japanese partners have a strong understanding of the security situation, as they continuously work and live in Kyiv.
“We highly value our cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and the agencies under its authority, and we hope to further deepen our cooperation with the National Police through continuous communication and professional exchanges,” he said.
The Japanese side also expressed interest in technological solutions and practices developed by the Ukrainian police during the full-scale war.
During the meeting, the National Police presented JICA with six promising areas for further cooperation. These include combating the illicit trafficking of weapons and explosives, strengthening the capabilities of the cyber police and criminal analysis units, improving the resilience of digital infrastructure, enhancing the protection of children in the digital environment, and other areas.
