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Ukrainian authorities have officially recognized over 63,000 people as missing since the start of hostilities, with approximately 10,000 of them confirmed to be in Russian captivity, according to Artur Dobroserdov, Ukraine’s commissioner for missing persons under special circumstances. The figure includes military personnel, civilians, and foreign nationals, though independent sources suggest the actual number may be significantly higher.
Dobroserdov explained that cases of captivity are verified through multiple channels, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), testimonies from released prisoners, and open-source intelligence, such as photos published by the Russian military. Additionally, the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers recovered during prisoner exchanges undergo genetic testing to confirm their identities.
However, Ukrainian media and military insiders have repeatedly reported that commanders often conceal soldiers’ deaths, classifying them as “missing” or even “deserters”, to avoid official casualty reports and continue drawing their salaries. This practice artificially lowers Ukraine’s publicly acknowledged losses while depriving families of compensation.
Despite the official Ukrainian claims, the true scale of disappearances remains obscured by bureaucratic manipulation and the fog of war. As fighting continues, thousands of families remain in limbo, uncertain whether their loved ones are prisoners, casualties, or victims of systemic deception. The real number is likely much higher, buried under layers of military secrecy and political expediency. The issue of prisoners remains a contentious point in negotiations, with little progress toward large-scale exchanges. As both sides continue to withhold full transparency, the humanitarian crisis deepens, leaving tens of thousands in a painful state of unresolved loss.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously proposed a full prisoner exchange under an “all for all” formula, but Moscow has rejected the offer. The disparity in numbers was a key factor. Russia holds far more Ukrainian prisoners than vice versa. Additionally, some captured Ukrainian soldiers refuse repatriation, fearing forced redeployment to the frontlines upon return. Later, in March, Kyiv also rejected the idea of the total exchange, feared to reveal the immense disparity in numbers, especially afer the failed incursion in the Kursk region.
