Nearly four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the scale of the missing is staggering. In this exclusive interview, Kathryne Bomberger, head of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), reveals:
- Why at least 80,000 Ukrainians are officially missing
- Why the real number could be as high as 200,000
- What we know about the 20,000 children reportedly deported
- The challenges of identifying remains returned from Russia
- How DNA technology is being used to uncover the truth
- Why speed matters – and why mistakes can have devastating consequences
Bomberger explains how Ukraine is attempting to build institutional capacity while fighting a war — and why unresolved missing persons cases can fuel long-term instability.
From mass graves to repatriated remains, from forensic science to international law, this conversation sheds light on one of the most painful and complex consequences of war.