The duration of the project implementation is 12 months.
In August of this year, construction work began in one of the premises of the Lviv Regional Bureau of Forensic Medical Examinations – a new premises is being built on the site of the old building, to which the DNA laboratory is planned to be moved.
We will remind that this DNA laboratory was opened in February 2023. In total, more than 38 million hryvnias were allocated from the regional budget and from the local budgets of Novoyavorivska, Yavorivska, Ivano-Frankivska and Slavska communities for the purchase of equipment that allows for the identification of deceased relatives by DNA research.
Today, October 6, Ivan Sobko, deputy head of Lviv OVA, and acting Yuriy Kholod, Chairman of the Lviv Regional Council.
As of the beginning of October, in particular, earthworks were carried out at the facility, walls were bricked, the floor was poured and the first floor was installed, and the second floor walls, etc., are being bricked. Funds from the regional budget were allocated in 2020 for the development of a working project in the amount of 49.9 thousand UAH, and in 2023 – another 4.3 million UAH for the adjustment and examination of the PCD, construction works, and the implementation of author’s and technical supervision.
The total cost of the reconstruction, which is currently underway, is more than UAH 43 million. To complete the project, funds from the regional budget and ten communities of the region, in particular, Lviv and Novoyavorivska, will be attracted.
According to Ivan Sobko, the deputy head of the Lviv OVA, the DNA laboratory, which was opened in February, is currently working in a small room, therefore, to ensure the possibility of conducting a larger number of DNA studies, a separate building is being set up in the bureau.
“Currently, approximately 8 million hryvnias have been attracted from local budgets for the continuation of repair works, and there is an urgent need for additional financing of the project. We appealed to all territorial communities to contribute to the funding, as the DNA laboratory carries out research from the entire region. This question concerns everyone, because the war touched every family. This is an extremely important project that we want to implement together with the communities,” added Ivan Sobko.
We would like to add that on September 12, the International Commission on Missing Persons, the Lviv Regional Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination and the Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University signed a tripartite cooperation agreement. The purpose of cooperation is the search and identification of the bodies of fallen heroes, civilians – victims of war. The memorandum also aims to establish cooperation for training and advanced training of specialists in the field of forensic medicine. Foreign experts will teach students of Lviv National Medical University named after Danylo Halytsky to recognize bodies and collect DNA materials. Practical classes will be held in the regional bureau of forensic medical examination.
Also, the leadership of LOVA and ENT visited today the Lviv Regional Hospital for War Veterans and Repressed People, where repair work is also ongoing.