Artur Dobroserdov, Commissioner for Persons Missing Under Special Circumstances

More than 90,000 people in Ukraine are officially considered missing under special circumstances. Some are military personnel, while others are civilians who disappeared in the occupied areas.

Ukrinform talked to Artur Dobroserdov, Commissioner for Persons Missing Under Special Circumstances, in the program “Ye Rozmova” (“There Is a Conversation”) released on Ukrinform’s YouTube channel, about how the search and identification system works, how long DNA examinations take, and why families of the missing often become targets of fraudsters.

Q: Recently you mentioned the figure of more than 90,000 missing persons. Do you confirm it now, and where do these data come from?

A: The figure we can publicly cite comes from the Unified Register of Persons Missing Under Special Circumstances. These are individuals whose disappearance has been officially confirmed during combat operations, in connection with armed aggression, or in the occupied territories.

Most of the data relate to the period after 2022. At the same time, the register also contains records of people who went missing as far back as 2014.

The register began operating in May 2023, and at that time information about both military personnel and civilians from previous years was added. Such records are not numerous, but they do exist. We verified these data with other state institutions — in particular the Police and the Security Service of Ukraine, which conduct investigations into cases of missing persons. That is why we say more than 90,000 people.

Exact figures during wartime are not disclosed — this is the prerogative of the highest military and political leadership.

Q: How many DNA profiles have already been entered into the database?

A: There is coordination between the Unified Register of Missing Persons and the electronic register of genomic information, which is administered by the expert service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. These registers exchange data, allowing us to see whether DNA profiles of relatives of missing persons have been added to the database, as well as profiles obtained during the identification of bodies.

As of today, there are more than 150,000 such records. This is explained by the fact that for each missing person, samples are usually provided by at least two relatives. In addition, DNA samples can sometimes be obtained from the missing person’s personal belongings.

There is also a growing practice in which servicemen voluntarily provide DNA samples during their service, which significantly facilitates identification if it becomes necessary.

Q: How long do families have to wait for the results of DNA examinations?

A: In cases of testing samples from relatives, the process usually takes up to one month from the moment the examination is ordered. However, when personal belongings or human remains need to be examined, the process can take much longer. Everything depends on the condition of the material.

If a body has been severely damaged or exposed to high temperatures, several testing attempts may be required. One such attempt takes about one and a half months, so in some cases the identification process may take longer.

Q: Who pays for DNA examinations?

A: For the families of the deceased or missing, DNA testing is paid for by the government. This also applies to where examinations are conducted by international partners — they carry them out at their own expense.

The most expensive tests are rapid DNA analyses, which are used during mass-casualty incidents. For example, after missile strikes on residential buildings or shopping centers. In such cases, mobile laboratories make it possible to quickly compare samples from relatives with samples obtained from bodies.

Q: Can families check DNA in private laboratories?

A: In practice, such cases do occur. Families sometimes turn to private laboratories that usually conduct paternity tests. Afterward, they bring the results to the investigator and ask for them to be attached to the case file.

However, it is important to understand that the evidentiary basis in criminal proceedings is the conclusion of a forensic expert. Therefore, such private examinations cannot always be used.

Q: Does Ukraine have enough laboratories to conduct DNA examinations?

A: To say that we have enough would be inaccurate — that is never the case. The largest number of laboratories operate within the Ministry of Internal Affairs system. They also exist within the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health. New laboratories are currently planned.

But even when equipment is available, there is always the issue of specialists and time. For example, when the repatriation of bodies takes place — 500, 700, or even thousands at once — the burden on the system increases sharply. This involves the work of investigators, forensic experts, and medical examiners.

And under such conditions, we have no right to make mistakes.

Q: Recently there was a high-profile case in which a serviceman was mistakenly believed to be dead, but he later returned from captivity. How could such a situation arise?

A: A criminal investigation has been opened into this case, and all the circumstances are being examined. In general, it is important to understand that during the identification process a preliminary DNA match may sometimes occur, which does not yet constitute final confirmation.

After such a match, a repeat examination must be conducted. For this purpose, additional samples may be taken from relatives or other testing methods may be used. In the case you mentioned, these recommendations were not fully followed. That is why all similar cases are now being reviewed.

Following this, new instructions were adopted, requiring verification to be carried out using at least two methods.

Q: What should a family do if a person has been declared missing?

A: The first step is to file a report with the police about the disappearance. After that, law enforcement begins a pre-trial investigation: collecting information about the person, their distinguishing features, photographs, contacts, and last known location.

Biological samples from relatives are also taken for DNA testing. The information is then checked according to two main scenarios: death or possible captivity. Families can also contact the National Information Bureau, the Coordination Headquarters for Prisoners of War, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Q: This week a system for identifying missing persons by tattoos was launched. How does it work?

A: Yes, this week we launched an additional identification tool — recognition by tattoos. It involves a special database that records tattoos of people who are being searched for as missing.

When bodies or remains are examined, experts also document any tattoos — they photograph and describe them. These images can then be compared with information previously provided by the relatives or close ones of the missing person.

Tattoos are often unique identifying marks that can significantly help establish a person’s identity, especially in cases where DNA identification is difficult or takes more time. At the same time, it is important to understand that this is an auxiliary method that supports other identification techniques — primarily DNA testing.

Q: Does publicity on social media help?

A: Here it is important to distinguish between different things. Rallies by families that draw attention to the issue of missing persons are important, indeed. It is a way of supporting one another and also a signal to the international community.

However, publishing detailed information about a serviceman — such as their place of service, unit, or the circumstances of their disappearance — can be harmful. Such data may be used against the family or against the serviceman himself.

Q: How widespread is fraud targeting families of missing persons?

A: Unfortunately, this is a serious problem. Last year alone, more than 300 official complaints were filed with the police by families who had fallen victim to fraudulent schemes.

Fraudsters often operate through Russian Telegram channels or even use artificial intelligence technologies. They falsify photographs or videos of prisoners and then contact families. At first they may request relatively small sums — five or ten thousand — but in some cases the amounts reach hundreds of thousands of hryvnias or even dollars.

Therefore, our main recommendation is not to engage with unknown channels, especially Russian ones, and to share any information only with official institutions.

Khrystia Ravliuk led this conversation

This conversation can be watched in full on the Ukrinform YouTube channel