Dialogue on the Investigation and Identification of Missing Persons in Ukraine
June 18, 2026
More than 100,000 people are currently registered as missing in Ukraine. Over 18,000 bodies and human remains are still unidentified. In 2025 alone, Ukrainian institutions have conducted more than 139,000 DNA examinations. These figures, among other things, were presented at the roundtable “Bridging Families and Forensic Efforts: Dialogue on the Investigation and Identification of Missing Persons in Ukraine”, convened by the Ukraine Forensic Cluster on 12 June in Kyiv.
The event brought together international stakeholders, national institutions and families of missing persons. The discussion focused on how Ukraine’s forensic, investigative and identification processes can better respond to the needs of those still waiting for news about their loved ones.
“Every missing person case is both a forensic task and a human responsibility. Ukraine is dealing with a challenge of extraordinary scale, and this requires strong coordination between investigators, prosecutors, forensic experts, institutions and families,” said Sven Erik Schuett, EUAM Ukraine’s Senior Adviser on Investigation of International Crimes. “EUAM Ukraine supports Ukrainian partners in strengthening investigative methodologies, forensic coordination and institutional cooperation, so that evidence is properly preserved, identification processes are more effective, and families are treated with dignity while they wait for answers.”
The discussion placed families at the centre. Participants spoke about the questions, concerns and expectations that relatives face while navigating complex procedures linked to tracing, identification, DNA analysis, communication with authorities and the return of human remains.
“Participation in the roundtable organised by the Ukraine Forensic Cluster provided a valuable opportunity to hear directly from families about their questions and concerns regarding the missing persons process,” said Soren Blau, Head of Anthropology and Archaeology Division at the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP). “It also enabled ICMP and its colleagues within the Cluster to better understand how they can continue to support Ukraine in addressing the significant challenges associated with accounting for the large number of missing persons”.
The Ukraine Forensic Cluster includes staff from the International Commission on Missing Persons, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Criminal Court, the European Union Advisory Mission Ukraine and the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine. Established in 2023, the Cluster holds monthly coordination meetings for international organisations supporting Ukraine’s work on missing persons in the context of Russia’s war.
These meetings help partners better understand each other’s roles and mandates, avoid duplication and identify common approaches. They also provide a space to review ongoing forensic-related activities, strengthen cooperation and support more coordinated assistance to Ukrainian authorities.
