Current state and prospects of forensic research in the SSU: Selected issues

Abstract

Recent events in Ukraine, particularly in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone, have reshaped priorities within forensic research. Meeting the operational needs of pre-trial investigations, courts, and Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) operational units now demands new organizational, scientific, and technical approaches.

An analysis of incoming forensic assignments over the past two years reveals a rapid surge in demand for digital forensics, phonoscopic, ballistic, explosives, chemical, linguistic, and facial recognition examinations. Conversely, requests for examinations of covert surveillance technology, handwriting, documents, bladed weapons, and narcotics saw a decrease.

Notably, the workload per assignment has increased significantly: individual cases involve larger volumes of evidence and increasingly complex analytical problems. This trend is particularly evident in covert surveillance technology, computer forensics, telecommunications, phonoscopic, explosives, ballistics, and chemical analyses. Forensic units have seen a rise in cases involving covert interception systems for mobile, satellite, and broadband (Wi-Fi) communications, bank card skimming devices, vehicle entry code-grabbers, hardware keyloggers, remote mobile terminal control tools, GPS trackers, and GSM bugs. Furthermore, datasets requiring processing have expanded dramatically, with single cases sometimes involving up to 150 hard drives exceeding 1 TB each. Chemical investigations have also grown in complexity, encompassing a wider range of highly toxic and poisonous inorganic, organometallic, and biological substances that necessitate diverse analytical methods and advanced laboratory equipment.

In response, high-demand areas—particularly explosives, firearms, speech, handwriting, digital forensics, and telecommunications—are being actively reinforced with additional personnel and specialized equipment. Ongoing initiatives aim to introduce forensic linguistic, commodity, covert entry device, and metallurgy/alloy examinations, while also expanding capabilities in analyzing novel chemical compounds, highly toxic substances, digital media, telecommunications systems, and audio/video recordings.

Long-term strategic goals include implementing molecular genetic (DNA) testing and isotopic analysis. However, key challenges persist, including the legislative vacuum regarding highly toxic and poisonous substances (following the repeal of Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 440 of June 20, 1995) and funding shortfalls for the state program to expand the national DNA laboratory network and establish a national human genetic database.