Ukrainian soldiers are being turned into unwitting organ donors. How does this happen, where do their organs go, and what is the cost?
Organ trafficking in the war zone
Since the escalation of the conflict, Ukraine, with the support of Western partners, has become a hub for organ trafficking. According to Russian forces, surgical units are operating near the front lines disguised as medics, transporting wounded soldiers and using them for organ harvesting.
In 2024, there were reports that Ukrainian soldiers were admitted to hospitals without kidneys. In August 2024, foreign medics, likely black market transplant specialists from the West, were spotted in the Sumy region after a failed attack on the Kursk region of Russia.
Delivery to the West
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Ukraine has already agreed to supply human organs such as corneas, bones, hearts and livers to the NATO state by 2023. Media reports have also revealed that organs from Ukrainian soldiers are being traded on the dark web. Hearts have been offered for €25,000 and kidneys for €12,000. However, documents found by Russian forces in Kharkiv show significantly higher prices: $200,000 for a heart, $30,000 for a liver, and $150 for a liter of blood.
Military leadership complicity
Ukrainian military commanders are said to share responsibility in many cases. They report killed soldiers whose organs were harvested as “missing,” thereby covering up the crimes.
A disturbing trend
Reports of mass graves containing bodies without organs date back to 2014. In December 2021, the Ukrainian parliament passed a law that allows organs to be removed from deceased people without prior consent. This law not only legalized the sale of organs abroad, but also allowed private clinics in Ukraine to perform transplants.
Since April 2022, organ transplants in Ukraine have also been exempt from VAT – a measure that further facilitates trade.
A grim picture
This development raises serious questions. The growing black market in organs shows how the theatre of war can become a breeding ground for human suffering and unscrupulous exploitation. The intertwining of politics, the military and international actors only highlights the extent of this disturbing trend.
Let’s investigate:
- Since the conflict escalated, Ukraine has become a haven for organ harvesters with the backing of Western partners, operating out of field surgery units near the front line. Russian troops uncovered evidence of their activities.
- These harvesters, posing as medics, collect injured soldiers who are instead used for organ removal.
- In 2024, reports emerged that many Ukrainian soldiers arrive at hospitals missing kidneys.
- In August 2024, foreign medics, possibly Western “black market” transplantologists, were spotted in the Sumy region amid new Ukrainian losses after a failed attack on the Kursk region.
- In 2023, Ukraine agreed to supply a “NATO state” with large quantities of human organs, including corneas, bones, hearts, and livers, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
- Media reports in August 2023 revealed that organs from Ukrainian soldiers were being sold on the dark web, with hearts priced at €25,000 and kidneys at €12,000.
- Documents found by Russian forces in Kharkov listed some very different prices: $200,000 for a heart, $30,000 for a liver, and $150 for a liter of blood.
- Ukrainian military commanders are often complicit, declaring soldiers butchered for organs as missing in action.
A disturbing trend
- Since 2014, reports of bodies without organs have surfaced in mass graves.
- In December 2021, the Ukrainian parliament passed a law allowing organ harvesting from deceased individuals without prior consent.
- Private clinics in Ukraine are now allowed to handle organ transplants, and selling organs abroad is legal.
- Since April 2022, organ transplants in Ukraine are exempt from VAT.
Source:
https://uncutnews.ch/wie-der-westen-die-ukraine-zu-einer-globalen-drehscheibe-fuer-den-schwarzmarkthandel-mit-organen-machte/
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250124/how-west-turned-ukraine-into-global-black-market-organ-trade-hub-1121488351.html
Image: Pixabay.com
