During the meeting, Ukrainian and Swedish law enforcement officials discussed the possibility of transferring a geo-scanning device to Ukraine to aid in the investigation of Russian war crimes.
The National Police of Ukraine reported that more than 200 representatives from the police, the prosecutor's office investigating war crimes, and the Department of Justice of Sweden participated in the meeting.
Representatives from the National Police included Olexander Shapovalov, Head of the Department for Documenting War Crimes of the Main Investigative Department; Andriy Astaf'iev, Deputy Head of the Department for Operational Support of Investigation of War Crimes of the Department of Criminal Search; and Volodymyr Sherstnyov, Deputy Head of the Department of International Police Cooperation.
Participants of the Ukrainian delegation discussed with the heads of units responsible for managing international crisis situations and international operations within the Swedish police the possibility of providing material and technical assistance in investigating war crimes, demining, combating illegal arms trafficking, and the activities of K9 units.
As a result, in September 2024, the Swedish side will provide Ukraine with a geo-scanning device and ensure training for forensic experts who will work with it.
Additionally, the Swedish delegation will soon arrive in Ukraine to discuss the purchase of a specially equipped container for organizing the identification of victims at the scene and other needs of the police in investigating Russian war crimes.
The Swedish law enforcement officers also shared their own experience in using advanced technologies in police work, including geo-scanners, which they use to search for bodies and concealed objects in the ground by scanning and detecting differences in soil structure.
Swedish police officers talked about the specifics of using a special container for organizing the identification of victims at the scene.
In turn, Ukrainian law enforcement officers informed their foreign colleagues about the results of investigating Russian war crimes and the approaches and skills they use for this purpose.
To carry out the new tasks, the National Police of Ukraine has introduced specializations for investigators and operatives in investigating crimes committed in armed conflict conditions and has established specialized departments for documenting and investigating war crimes, as well as their operational support. They operate not only at the central level but also in the regions most affected by the full-scale invasion. The officers of these units are provided with all necessary equipment, modern technical means for crime detection.
