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Polish law enforcement officers contribute to evidence collection in war-ravaged Ukrainian sites through advanced 3D scanning technology as part of the JIT investigative team.
In February 28, 2022, the Mazovian Branch of the Department for Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw initiated an investigation under case number 1001-105 Ds. 12.2022 into the aggressive war launched on February 24, 2022, by Russian authorities against Ukraine, under Article 117 § 1 of the Penal Code, among others.
Amidst the ruins on Ukrainian soil, Polish law enforcement officers embarked on a unique mission. Pursuant to Prosecutor General’s Decree No. 12/22 on March 24, 2022, Inspector Dr. Michał Białęcki, Deputy Director of the Economic Crime Combat Bureau of the Polish National Police, was appointed to the investigative team.
Furthermore, a joint investigation team (JIT) was formed through an agreement between Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine on March 25, 2022. The team, which comprised experienced police officers, was tasked with evidence collection. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office requested Polish support twice (in 2022 and 2023) for evidence gathering in the aftermath of war-related destruction.
Between June 20 and July 1, 2022, and again between July 12 and 22, 2023, Polish prosecutors and officers participated in on-site examinations in Ukrainian towns devastated by warfare. The main objective was to document and analyze damage to civilian structures. Cutting-edge 3D laser scanners from the Polish Police were utilized to ensure meticulous documentation of the affected areas.
In total, 21 damaged buildings, including residential, administrative, and public-use structures, were examined. The 3D scans, boasting accuracy down to 1 mm, provided essential evidence. The collaboration between Polish and Ukrainian law enforcement not only demonstrated solidarity but also facilitated swift and precise evidence collection in challenging circumstances.