Ukraine reports 90,000 missing persons four years into Russian invasion
Approximately 90,000 Ukrainians have been reported missing since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion four years ago. Artur Dobroserdov, the State Commissioner for Persons Missing under Special Circumstances, disclosed the figure on Thursday.
The majority of those on the list are military personnel. While many are presumed dead, Dobroserdov noted that the list likely includes prisoners of war held by Russia and a small number of deserters.
Conflicting casualty reports
President Volodymyr Zelensky recently stated that Russia holds approximately 7,000 Ukrainian soldiers as prisoners. In contrast, Ukraine currently holds about 4,000 Russian prisoners of war.
Both belligerents consistently refrain from publishing official casualty counts, often inflating enemy losses. Early this month, Zelensky estimated that 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in the four-year conflict, an increase from the 31,000 he reported two years ago.
Divergent international estimates
International assessments suggest a significantly higher toll. In August 2023, U.S. officials estimated Ukrainian fatalities had already reached 70,000.
Other sources offer even grimmer figures. Former presidential advisor Oleksii Arestovych claimed in late 2023 that deaths could reach 200,000, while French war correspondents recently cited intelligence suggesting 60,000 dead and 30,000 missing.
U.S. President Donald Trump has also weighed in on the scale of the tragedy, stating that thousands continue to die weekly on the front lines.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
