The Search for the Missing in Ukraine: From War to Artificial Intelligence

17th March 2025

3 minutes read

The Search for the Missing in Ukraine: From War to Artificial Intelligence

The suffering in the Ukrainian war is not confined to the battlefield alone; it extends to thousands of families searching for their missing loved ones.

As the years go by, it becomes increasingly difficult to locate these missing individuals, whether they are prisoners of war or victims whose bodies have not yet been found, according to the American network CNN. In the face of this challenge, Ukraine is turning to advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and DNA analysis, along with the efforts of families who have become an integral part of the search process.

CNN’s report highlights the story of Nazar Oushiretni, a Ukrainian military medic who sent a text message to his mother on March 30, 2022, saying: “Hi mom. Everything is fine… I will be offline for a while, maybe a week or a month… don’t worry.” This was the last message he sent before disappearing in Mariupol, which was under siege during one of the bloodiest chapters of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Nearly three years later, his fate remains unknown.

The Number of Missing People Increases

Oushiretni’s mother was officially notified on April 12, 2022, that he was missing in action and may have been captured. Despite her continued efforts to search for him, it is still unknown whether he is alive or dead.

Oushiretni is one of around 60,000 people, both military and civilian, registered as missing under “special circumstances” in Ukraine’s unified government registry. However, the actual number may be much higher.

According to Ukraine’s Commissioner for the Missing, Artur Dobroserdov, a person registered as missing is either a prisoner of war in Russia or dead. As the war continues, locating the missing or recovering the bodies of the deceased becomes increasingly difficult.

Challenges in Recovering Bodies

With the changing methods of combat since 2022 and the extensive use of drones by both sides, recovering bodies from the frontlines has become more complicated. This is why both Russia and Ukraine conduct regular exchanges of bodies.

Since the start of the Russian military operation in February 2022, Ukraine has managed to recover more than 7,000 bodies.

During the latest exchange of bodies on February 14, 2025, Ukraine recovered the bodies of 757 soldiers. However, for their families, this was not enough to bury their loved ones according to Ukrainian traditions due to the difficulty in identifying the bodies.

Identifying Bodies Using DNA

The recovered bodies are often disfigured, decomposed, or burned, making the identification process long and complex. A mandatory DNA test is performed on all bodies and body parts to accurately establish their identity before being handed over to the families. In some cases, parts of the same body are found during different exchanges.

To speed up the process of searching for the missing, Ukrainian authorities have resorted to advanced technologies such as 3D facial reconstruction using the skull shape and genetic information. They also use facial recognition software provided by Western partners to search for the missing in databases and on social media.

In one facility in Kyiv, a specialized team analyzes images showing Ukrainian prisoners of war on Russian Telegram channels and other media to identify them and inform their families.

Efforts by Families

In addition to government efforts, groups of families have formed to search for their loved ones online and through Russian media. Oushiretni’s mother, Valentina Oushiretnaya, received information that her son had been seen in captivity in various locations across Russia and occupied Ukraine.

Despite submitting DNA samples to Ukrainian authorities and the International Red Cross, no match has been found in the database.

Like thousands of other Ukrainian families, Valentina hopes that all Ukrainian prisoners will be released as a step toward peace. She says: “I only pray that my son is returned to me. I want nothing more than his return.”