From September 26 to 28, 2023, Anton Polianskyi, Head of the Laboratory of Organization of Scientific, Methodological Activities, Regulatory Support, International Cooperation and Expert Training, and Ihor Samoilenko, Chief Forensic Expert of the Trace and Ballistics Research Department of the Criminalistics Laboratory, participated in the 11th Swiss International Ballistics Seminar held in Hitzkirch, Switzerland. The event was organized by the Institute of Legal Medicine of the University of Bern and the Congress Center Hitzkirch. The event was moderated by Professor Markus A. Rothschild, MD (Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Cologne).
The seminar focused on current theoretical and practical aspects of ballistics.
The following topics were presented for discussion:
– weapons and ammunition;
– Ballistics – internal/external;
– wound ballistics;
– ballistic aspects of the assassination of US President A. Lincoln;
– Wound ballistics: the basics of legal medicine;
– Wound ballistics and international law;
– ballistic applications.
A unique opportunity for practical training was also provided, namely shooting at various objects at the range and practical study of the bullet’s path along the ballistic trajectory in various obstacles such as ballistic soap; shooting through polyurethane bones filled with ballistic gelatin. Also, wound channels from ricocheting bullets were studied; wounds from long-range shooting were simulated; the rate of penetration into gelatin was determined; bullets for the HP pistol of various configurations/constructions were studied; a contact shot and a long-range shot in a skull model (rifle) were studied; the effect of body armor (type II) on gunshot wounds was determined; the behavior of a bullet after penetrating a car windshield was studied; the effect of some types of firearms printed on a 3D printer was considered; the effect of shot dispersion depending on distance was investigated.
Our experts have exchanged experience with colleagues from different countries, which is an important factor for the development of expertise.
We are grateful to the organizers of the seminar, and we would like to express our special gratitude to the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine, which helped to organize the participation of our experts in this educational and unique seminar. This is a great support for us and an opportunity to become better!
