The families of police officers who have been killed or are missing in action will be issued special identification cards

Ukraine has approved a new procedure for issuing special certificates to the families of police officers and employees of the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) who have been killed in the line of duty, have died, or are missing in action. This document will serve as official confirmation of the family’s status and will provide the legal basis for the prompt receipt of all benefits, social guarantees, and monetary compensation provided for by law. 

Close relatives of law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty, died as a result of injuries sustained, were declared missing by a court, or went missing under special circumstances will be eligible to apply for this special document. Eligible recipients include the spouse, minor children (under 18 years of age), children enrolled as full-time students at institutions of higher education (up to 23 years of age), as well as individuals with disabilities since childhood, regardless of their current age.

Application Procedure and Processing Times

To obtain the certificate, a family member or their legal representative must submit an application to the National Police unit at their place of residence—either in person or electronically. The application must be accompanied by documents proving identity, confirming family ties, a photograph, and relevant supporting documents (a court decision, a death certificate, or an extract from the Unified Register of Persons Missing Under Special Circumstances). If the required information is already entered in digital government registries, there is no need to submit it additionally in paper form.

The local police authority will verify the accuracy of the completed documents within three business days and forward them to the unit at the law enforcement officer’s last place of service, where their personnel file is kept. The total processing time for reviewing the application, issuing the certificate, or providing an official denial is up to 30 calendar days. For most categories, the certificate is valid indefinitely, except for children (valid until age 18 or 23) and individuals with temporary disabilities.

When a certificate is denied or revoked

The government has clearly defined the list of grounds under which the document will not be issued or will be revoked. Grounds for refusal include the death or disappearance of a police officer as a result of committing an offense, due to alcohol or drug intoxication, as a result of suicide (unless a court has established that the individual was driven to suicide), or in the event of voluntary surrender to the enemy.

A certificate that has already been issued must be revoked and returned to the state if a law enforcement officer who was considered missing or missing without a trace is found. The status is also revoked when children reach the age limit, the disability period expires, false information is discovered, or if the widow or widower of a police officer remarries.

This was reported by the “Judicial and Legal Gazette,” citing a government resolution.