Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Ukraine
This guide explains what happens after a death in Ukraine, who to contact, and how to arrange for your loved one to be brought home, to the UK, Ireland or any other country. Facts for British nationals come from FCDO and government sources. Every situation is different, and if you would like us to take over the arrangements, send us the details.
Typical timeline
6 to 12 weeks
FCDO 24hr helpline
+44 (0)20 7008 5000
Ukraine is an active conflict zone. If a British national has died in Ukraine, the first call is not to a funeral home. It is to the FCDO Emergency Travel Line: 020 7008 5000.
This is not a standard repatriation case. The processes, contacts, and logistics that apply to most countries do not apply in Ukraine.
Step one: Call FCDO immediately
The British Embassy in Kyiv suspended normal consular operations following Russia’s full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022. Consular assistance for Ukraine is now coordinated via the FCDO Emergency Travel Line and a British presence maintained in Lviv.
Call 020 7008 5000. Explain that a British national has died in Ukraine. FCDO will guide you on the immediate steps and the specific consular pathway for this case.
Step two: Appoint a specialist
Ukraine cases require a specialist repatriation company with conflict zone experience. Not every repatriation company handles Ukraine. Ask directly: have they managed cases from Ukraine since February 2022? Do they have contacts in Lviv? Do they have a network at the Polish border crossings?
Step three: Establish location
The repatriation process is fundamentally different depending on where the death occurred.
Deaths in Kyiv and government-held urban areas involve Ukrainian official administrative processes that are still functioning, though under significant pressure. Deaths in areas of active combat, occupation, or recent frontline movement may be impossible to progress until conditions change.
Your specialist must establish whether the area is accessible and under Ukrainian government administrative control before any formal process can begin.
Documentation
All Ukrainian official documentation is in Ukrainian Cyrillic. Death certificates, forensic reports, Ministry of Health export permits: everything requires certified translation into English for UK reregistration purposes.
In government-held territory, administrative processes continue. The National Forensic Science Centre of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health continue to issue documentation.
The overland route
Boryspil International Airport (KBP) near Kyiv has been closed since 24 February 2022. All cargo must leave Ukraine by road or rail.
The most used exit route is the Shehyni/Medyka crossing into Poland. From there, cargo connects via Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport, Warsaw Chopin Airport, or Krakow John Paul II Airport to UK destinations. Journey time from Kyiv to the Polish border is typically 8 to 12 hours depending on conditions and crossing wait times.
Timeline and cost
Allow 6 to 12 weeks as a minimum for most cases. Cases involving active combat areas may take several months or may not be possible until security conditions permit.
On arrival in the UK
Register the death with the relevant UK registrar. Deaths abroad require registration in the district where the family resides. Bring all translated documentation.
Further resources
- FCDO Ukraine travel advice (gov.uk)
- FCDO Emergency Travel Line: 020 7008 5000 (available 24 hours)
- Repatriation from Ukraine to the UK: full country guide
First things first
What to do in the first 24 hours
The immediate period after a death abroad is disorienting. Here are the steps in the order they normally need to happen.
Contact local emergency services
Contact the embassy or consulate
Tell the embassy or consulate of your loved one's own country as soon as possible. It can register the death, give you a list of local funeral directors and explain what the local authorities will need.
British nationals, FCDO 24hr: +44 (0)20 7008 5000
Appoint a local funeral director
A local funeral director in Ukraine will take care of the body, arrange embalming, obtain the necessary documents, and coordinate with airlines. The embassy can recommend accredited directors. You can also contact a specialist UK repatriation company, who will coordinate with a local partner on your behalf.
Contact your travel insurer
If your loved one had travel insurance with repatriation cover, contact the insurer immediately. They will often have an emergency assistance line and may appoint their own funeral director. Many policies cover the full cost of repatriation, subject to the limit set out in the policy schedule.
Gather the required documents
Repatriation from Ukraine requires specific paperwork before a body can be transported. Your local funeral director will handle most of this.
What to expect
How long does it take?
Factors that can extend the timeline
- FCDO advises against all travel to Ukraine since February 2022: deaths involve atypical consular procedures
- Boryspil International Airport closed since February 2022: all cargo must transit overland via Poland or other EU land borders
- Ukrainian documentation (Cyrillic) requiring certified translation
- Active conflict zone conditions affecting access to bodies, administrative infrastructure, and transport logistics
Cost guide
What affects the cost?
Nobody publishes a reliable figure for Ukraine alone. Our cost page sets out the ranges repatriation firms publish, each named and dated. What you pay turns on the specifics of the case.
| Where the death happened | Distance to the departure airport, and any island or overland transfer, changes the freight arrangement |
| Whether a post-mortem is ordered | An investigation holds the release and adds mortuary time |
| Documentation required | Ukraine paperwork, translation, and any legalisation step |
| Coffin and preparation | Airline and destination rules dictate what is needed |
| Flight availability | Direct services cost less to arrange than multi-leg cargo routing |
| Insurance | Whether a policy covers repatriation, and up to what limit |
Send us the details and we will give you a figure for your case, with no obligation.
Full repatriation guide for Ukraine
Detailed information on the full repatriation process, embassy contacts, what affects the cost, cultural considerations, and more.
View full guideSend us the details
If you need someone to take over the arrangements, tell us what has happened. We arrange repatriation from Ukraine to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Send an enquiryTell us what has happened in Ukraine
Send us the details and we will explain what happens next and prepare a quote for bringing your loved one home, to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) guidance, official embassy contacts, and professional repatriation experience. Facts last checked September 2026; page updated .
Official lists for Ukraine
Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals. We are not connected to the firms listed.
- Lawyers, where an estate or an investigation needs local legal advice
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · Repatriation from Ukraine · Frequently asked questions