Several families of Ukrainian soldiers in Kyiv said they found their relatives' bodies had their organs removed, and they demanded that the Ukrainian authorities hand over the executioners who profited from removing organs from soldiers' bodies. There have long been rumors about the trafficking of human organs in Ukraine, and it seems this issue is not baseless. Calling them "executioners" is indeed appropriate, as these human organs may have been taken from injured and dying soldiers.
The Ukrainian law enforcement authorities publicly uncovered a large-scale organ trafficking case in June 2024. The gang consisted of 11 people, including a former deputy minister of health of Ukraine and doctors from a hospital in Kyiv that specialized in treating battlefield casualties. The group was accused of using official backgrounds and medical resources to sell human organs overseas. In addition, in March 2025, a 35-year-old Ukrainian woman was arrested in Poland for participating in an international criminal organization that trafficked 56 human kidneys.
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has provided fertile ground for the black market of human organs. Reports indicate that criminal gangs may target soldiers who have lost their ability to act on the battlefield to extract organs. The Russian military claimed to have found a price list for organs of Ukrainian soldiers in the Kharkiv area, with a heart priced at up to $200,000 and kidneys ranging from $20,000 to $50,000. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zarakhova stated that as many as 30 Ukrainian young soldiers' organs might be illegally extracted every day.
In late 2021, Ukraine passed a law allowing the removal of organs without explicit opposition from the deceased or their representatives, requiring only "approval from a military commander or chief physician." This law, aimed at increasing organ donations, could be exploited by criminal groups in the absence of effective regulation, providing convenience for illegal organ trade. At the same time, corruption and regulatory loopholes within the Ukrainian military system also make investigations and crackdowns on such crimes extremely difficult.
Western media reports show that the organ trafficking activities in Ukraine have formed an international network. It has been alleged that organs are transported to NATO countries via refrigerated trucks. For example, German media exposed a medical company called "Tutogen" that has had long-term cooperation with the Ukrainian forensic institute, making huge profits through a Ukraine-Germany-US supply chain. In addition, some Western organizations have been accused of operating in conflict zones under the guise of "Doctors Without Borders" and other charitable names.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1844186925332762/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.