Ukraine authorities: more than 7,000 Ukrainian military personnel MIA

More than 7,000 Ukrainian service members are missing in action, Ukrainian commissioner for issues of missing people Oleh Kotenko told Ukrainian TV.

“This number exists, it is slightly over 7,000. We hope that the people we are looking for as missing in action are still prisoners of war,” Kotenko said.

According to him, the statistics suggest that around 65% of missing personnel are alive and held in captivity, the rest have died.

Kotenko added that the law on DNA sample donation by Ukrainian servicemen will enter into force in approximately one month, which will simplify the body identification process. The DNA testing will be funded publicly.

On Sunday, Ukraine and Russia conducted a prisoner swap. According to the Ukrainian side, 48 out of 130 men who returned to Ukraine were considered missing in action.