Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs reveals number of missing persons

Ukraine's unified registry of persons missing under special circumstances now includes 42,000 individuals. This alarming figure was disclosed by Dmytro Bogatyuk, head of the Department for Persons Missing Under Special Circumstances at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Bogatyuk stated, "Since the registry's inception, we've recorded information on more than 51,000 people considered missing under special circumstances. As of today, this number includes those still being searched for, which is approximately 42,000."

The Ministry also has data on about 7,000 individuals whose whereabouts have been established. Notably, the National Police are investigating over 90% of cases related to missing persons, highlighting the enormous strain on law enforcement resources.

Bogatyuk pointed out a critical issue: the lack of DNA sampling for military personnel deployed to combat zones. He noted, "While this matter is more or less resolved for the National Police, National Guard, and State Border Service - with the help of international partners and the Red Cross - the Ministry of Defense still faces this problem."

As of March 2024, the number of missing persons in Ukraine exceeded 50,000.