The history of death records in Ukraine is intertwined with its complex political and administrative past. Like many countries, the recording of deaths has evolved over time, influenced by various historical events, administrative changes, and shifts in cultural practices. Today, the search for death certificates in Ukraine is complicated by active combat operations on the country's territory following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2023.
History of death records in Ukraine
Pre-Soviet era
Before the October revolution, death records in Ukraine were primarily kept by religious institutions, mainly Orthodox and Catholic churches. These records, also called metric books, played a crucial role in documenting vital events within the community and were often the only source of information regarding births, marriages, and deaths.
The format and content of death records varied depending on the religious denomination and local customs. Typically, death records included the deceased's name, age, date of death, cause of death, and sometimes the names of parents, spouse, or children. The records were written in Church Slavonic or Ukrainian, depending on the preferences of the local clergy.
Access to death records was limited to church officials and members of the community. These records were not standardized, and the level of detail varied from parish to parish. Additionally, due to the decentralized nature of record-keeping and the lack of uniform guidelines, the accuracy and completeness of death records could vary significantly. Death records were usually kept in parish registers or ledgers, which were meticulously maintained by the parish priest or designated church official. These registers were considered sacred documents and were kept in a secure location within the church.
Vital records were kept by clergy for each community. In Ukraine, you will find different sets of metrical records depending on religious affiliation of a person. Namely, Greek Catholic (Ukrainian), Roman Catholic (Polish), Judaic (Jewish), Protestant (German, Czech, Hungarian), Christian Orthodox (Ukrainian, Romanian).
The certificate from the Roman Catholic Church for the deceased in the second half of the 19th century, were written on identical printed forms. The record was arranged on one page in several columns. Typically, the page contained 4-6 certificates. The language used was Russian. For ease of search, surnames of the deceased were marked on the side.
Death records can be divided into three types: for children, for singles, and for married individuals.
The data in Catholic death records for children are almost as informative as baptismal records: they include the names and surnames of parents, the place of death, with only information about godparents missing. The information in death records for single individuals is minimal, as there is no data about parents or family. The most informative for genealogical research are death records for married individuals, where in addition to information about the deceased, the names of their spouse and children are provided, sometimes with additional details, such as the surnames of married daughters.[1]
In the records of Russian Orthodox metric books for death, the following information was recorded: name and patronymic, surname, age, marital status, date and cause of death, place of burial. Metric books are kept in the archives, in the State Registration Service Departments (RAGS), and in the archives of individual religious institutions. It should be noted that in some settlements there were several churches, while in others there were none at all. In such cases, it is necessary to determine which parish the village belonged to if there was no church. When collecting data from metric books, attention should be paid to the religious affiliation of the individual, i.e., searching through documents of religious institutions of the corresponding denominations.
For genealogical researchers, accessing pre-revolutionary death records in Ukraine can be challenging due to several factors, including the loss or destruction of records during wars, conflicts, and political upheavals, as well as restrictions on access to church archives in certain regions.
Soviet-era death records in Ukraine
One significant period in the history of death records in Ukraine occurred during the Soviet era. Under Soviet rule, a centralized system of civil registration was established, which mandated the recording of births, marriages, and deaths. This system aimed to provide the state with comprehensive demographic data and exert control over its citizens. Death records were meticulously maintained by local civil registration offices, known as ZAGS (ЗАГС - ЗАГс, ЗАГС) in Ukrainian, and were an essential tool for government planning and administration.
However, during turbulent periods such as World War II and the Stalinist purges, accurate record-keeping faced challenges due to widespread displacement, destruction of infrastructure, and political upheaval. Many death records from this time may be incomplete or inaccurate, reflecting the chaotic circumstances of the era.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine underwent significant political and social transformations. The country began transitioning to a democratic system and embarked on reforms aimed at modernizing various institutions, including civil registration. The process of decentralization led to changes in the administration of vital records, with local authorities assuming greater responsibility for registration processes.
Death records in Ukraine now
Today, death records in Ukraine are typically maintained by local civil registration offices, which operate under the auspices of the State Registration Service of Ukraine. These offices are responsible for recording deaths, issuing death certificates, and maintaining vital statistics databases. In recent years, efforts have been made to modernize record-keeping systems, improve data accuracy, and streamline administrative procedures.
According to the Family Code of Ukraine and the Law of Ukraine "On the Registration of Civil Status Acts," death must be registered by the state authorities in the registry offices of civil status acts based on the deceased's last place of residence, the place of death, or the place of burial.
The registry offices of civil status acts include the civil registration departments of the Main Department of Justice of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, regional, Kyiv and Sevastopol city, district, district in cities, urban (cities of regional significance), city district departments of justice, as well as executive bodies of village, township, urban (except cities of regional significance) councils. Registration of the death of Ukrainian citizens residing abroad is carried out by consular offices and diplomatic missions of Ukraine. The fact of death is confirmed by a medical certificate or a paramedic's death certificate issued by a medical institution, a court decision establishing the fact of death or declaring a citizen deceased, as well as a notification from places of detention, sent together with a medical certificate of death. The basis for registering the death of persons repressed by the decision of non-judicial and judicial authorities is a notification from the state archive or the Security Service of Ukraine.
How to find death records in Ukraine
- Identify the location: Determine the specific location in Ukraine where the deceased individual lived or died. This information is crucial for accessing the relevant archives or records.
- Gather basic information: Collect as much basic information as possible about the deceased individual, including their full name, date of birth (if known), date of death (if known), and any other relevant details such as place of residence or family members.
- Determine the religious affiliation: Determine the religious affiliation of the deceased individual, as death records in Ukraine may be maintained by Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Jewish, or other religious institutions.
- Locate the relevant archives: Identify the archives or repositories that hold death records for the specific location and time period of interest. This may include state archives, church archives, or regional historical archives.
- Accessing church records: If the deceased individual belonged to a religious community, such as the Orthodox or Greek Catholic Church, contact the local parish or diocese to inquire about the availability of death records. Some church records may also be available online or through genealogical organizations.
- Consulting state archives: If the deceased individual's death occurred in the 20th century or later, consult the State Registration Service Departments (RAGS) or the State Archives of Ukraine. These archives may hold civil registration records, including death certificates, from the Soviet era onwards. Online Resources: Many archives and genealogical organizations in Ukraine are digitizing their collections and making them available online. Explore websites such as FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, and Ukrainian archival portals to search for digitized death records.
- Requesting copies: Contact the relevant archives or repositories directly to inquire about their services for providing copies of records. Some archives offer remote research services where staff can search for and provide copies of specific records for a fee.
See also
Search death records in Ukraine
Explore more about death records in Ukraine
- Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries in Ukraine record collection at MyHeritage
- Amazing Ways to Use Death Records for Family History Research at MyHeritage Blog
References
- ↑ Метричне свідоцтво про смерть, римо-католики, друга половина XIX сторіччя. Генеалогія для початківців