Ukraine's Commissioner for Missing Persons reported the figure of over 90,000 missing persons. ' According to Paasikivi, the majority of those registered are likely soldiers, but civilians are also included. He explained that one reason for the high number could be that Ukrainian forces have retreated from areas where fighting previously took place, and when fallen soldiers cannot be retrieved, they can instead be registered as missing.
Paasikivi noted that it is most likely that a majority of the missing are dead, but a clearer assessment requires the war to end or the situation to stabilize. ' Some people registered as missing may be difficult to ever find again, Paasikivi observed, citing that if someone is hit by a shell, very little remains, making identification harder. He also pointed out that in Ukraine and in previous wars, it has happened that people categorized as missing or even dead later returned from captivity.
It is distressing numbers, but not particularly surprising.
The numbers are difficult to compare with other conflicts because the scale of the war is unprecedented in modern times. Paasikivi remarked, 'This war can really only be compared with the Second World War. ' Meanwhile, regular demonstrations are held in Ukraine, including in Odessa, where relatives demand the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians in Russian prisons.
The exact breakdown of how many of the missing are soldiers versus civilians remains unclear, as does the proportion who are dead, captured, or in other situations.
There is a dark figure there too, we know that the Russians have not reported all the prisoners of war they have taken.