CLAIM: Ukrainians who were taken as prisoners of war are being shown signing a “French medical insurance” form, which essentially amounts to consenting to organ removal…
CONCLUSION: The alleged Ukrainian prisoner of war is showing a Canadian form intended for individuals in Ontario who wish to register as organ donors. This is a document that is publicly available and can be printed by anyone. In response to our inquiry to the relevant Ontario authority, we were informed that the donation form is only intended for Ontario residents who hold a valid health card, and only if death occurs within Ontario.
The claim that there is systematic illegal organ trafficking from the bodies of dead Ukrainian soldiers is once again circulating. This time, a video was shared showing a supposed Ukrainian prisoner displaying a consent form for organ removal. The claim has appeared on various websites, as well as on the profile of Thanasis Avgerinos, a correspondent in Moscow for OPEN and RIK.
Thanasis Avgerinos has spread misinformation many times in the past, especially on issues related to Ukraine. At the same time, claims about organ trafficking in Ukraine are recurring and have been previously debunked (examples here and here).
What we know
The claim appeared on March 29, 2025, on X (formerly Twitter) accounts known for spreading Russian propaganda (e.g., Zlatti71), on Russian websites, and even on the Russian Ministry of Defense’s Telegram channel.
The video features a man who is allegedly captured by the Russians and is named Andrei Chemer. The Ukrainian prisoner shows the camera a Canadian organ donation consent form.
The document (in English and French) is indeed real, but it is accessible to everyone through the Central Forms Repository (CFR) on the official ServiceOntario platform. It is a declaration for anyone who wishes to become an organ donor, and anyone can download and print it.
We contacted ServiceOntario to obtain more information:
“The organ donor program is intended only for residents of Ontario who have a valid Ontario health card. Everyone needs a health card, and organs can only be donated within the province of Ontario and only if the death has occurred in Ontario.”
Conclusion
The alleged Ukrainian prisoner of war is showing a Canadian form intended for individuals who wish to register as organ donors in Ontario. This is a document that is publicly available and can be printed by anyone. In response to our inquiry to the relevant Ontario authority, we were informed that the donation application is only intended for Ontario residents who hold a valid health card and only if the death has occurred in Ontario.