The Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has passed a law prohibiting the harvesting of organs from both military and civilian casualties in the ongoing war with Russia. Law No. 9558, titled “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Improving the Organization of Medical Care Using Transplantation,” was approved on Thursday with broad support, receiving 254 votes out of 313.
This new legislation expands upon previous restrictions that applied only to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, establishing a nationwide ban on organ harvesting from individuals killed due to Russia’s aggression. The law specifically prohibits the removal of organs from orphaned children, incapacitated persons, unidentified individuals, and those who die as a result of law enforcement or security force actions.
In addition, the law creates a National Transplantation Committee to oversee complaints and adverse reactions related to organ transplantation, ensuring greater transparency and accountability. It also introduces stricter procedures for verifying organ donations, including enhanced scrutiny of donor-recipient matching and mandatory reviews of reported irregularities in transplantation processes. To improve oversight, Ukrainian non-profit organizations will now be responsible for managing national registries and donor information systems.
This legislation was introduced in response to a surge of disinformation from Russia regarding organ trafficking in Ukraine. In August 2023, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spread claims about alleged organ harvesting operations, with some Russian officials accusing Ukraine of using “black transplantation” to fund its war efforts. These allegations were reportedly amplified by Russian state media and social networks, particularly in the context of the ongoing invasion.
Human Rights Watch has reported widespread civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials argue that the new law will help combat misinformation and ensure that the country’s medical practices remain ethical and transparent amidst the conflict.
The law is set to take effect the day after its official publication, with the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers given 90 days to align relevant regulations and ensure compliance across all central executive bodies.
