On 18 June 2026, by decision of the Central Expert Qualification Commission under the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, two forensic experts of the Bokarius Forensic Science Institute were awarded qualifications as forensic experts in Specialty 20.1 “Anthropological Examinations.”

This new area of expertise enables the Institute to conduct forensic personal identification using craniofacial superimposition with the advanced specialized software package Skeleton-ID. This software is used by law enforcement and governmental agencies in numerous countries worldwide as a modern tool for research in the fields of physical and forensic anthropology.

Within the framework of Specialty 20.1, experts of the Bokarius Forensic Science Institute will be able to establish a person’s identity through craniofacial superimposition by comparing photographs or image frames extracted from video recordings of an unknown individual with a skull submitted for examination (or its 3D model). This approach is particularly valuable in cases where DNA analysis or fingerprint identification is impossible or significantly complicated.

The introduction of anthropological examinations strengthens the capabilities of the Bokarius Forensic Science Institute under the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine in the field of victim identification, particularly under wartime conditions, and will contribute to the development of evidentiary support for national and international investigations of war crimes.

For consultations regarding anthropological examinations, the identification of individuals based on skeletal remains, and other types of forensic examinations, please contact the Bokarius Forensic Science Institute.