The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, has enacted sweeping legislation that bans the practice of organ donation from military and civilian casualties arising from Russia’s invasion. This legislative measure, Law No. 9558 “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Improving the Organization of Medical Care Using Transplantation,” received overwhelming support, with 254 out of 313 lawmakers voting in favor. The full details are available through the Verkhovna Rada’s official records.
The newly passed law expands upon previous restrictions that were limited to the heavily contested Donetsk and Luhansk regions, establishing a nationwide prohibition on harvesting organs from soldiers who have fallen in combat, as well as civilians who perished due to violence attributable to the ongoing conflict. A crucial aspect of the legislation is its prohibition on removing anatomical materials from vulnerable groups such as orphaned children, incapacitated individuals, and unidentified persons.
In response to these bans, Ukraine is setting up a National Transplantation Committee designed to investigate adverse reactions and handle complaints. Moreover, the legislation provides for an emergency transplantation status for patients in urgent need, aiming to close any loopholes that could allow for disinformation campaigns. The legal text emphasizes the necessity for enhanced oversight of the donor-recipient matching process alongside mandating that all Ukrainian donor information systems and registries be managed by non-profit entities. More details on the legislation elaborate on these measures.
This law comes as a direct counter to a recent surge in misinformation, notably from Russia, alleging organ trafficking activities within Ukraine. In one such accusation, Russia’s Foreign Ministry made allegations through official channels, claiming the existence of organ harvesting sites in sectors such as Kupiansk and the Kharkiv region. These unsubstantiated claims have been further disseminated by Russian stakeholders, including Duma member Ana Kuznetsova. A detailed examination of these narratives can be found on Vox Ukraine.
Amid these claims, the conflict initiated by Russia in 2022 has reportedly resulted in significant civilian casualties, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region. Human Rights Watch continues to document these developments extensively, underlining the dire humanitarian fallout and allegations of potential violations of international law by Russian forces.
Following the law’s enforcement, which comes into effect the day after its publication, the Cabinet of Ministers will align existing regulations with this new measure, ensuring cohesive governance across Ukraine’s legal framework. For ongoing updates, see reporting by JURIST.