The bodies of two Ukrainian soldiers, Pvt. Serhiy Matsiuk and Pvt. Andriy Zaretsky, lay in a field for months as their families attempted to obtain official confirmation of their deaths. The Ukrainian military is struggling to keep up with the casualties from the ongoing war, leaving many families without closure. The high number of missing soldiers, estimated at around 31,000 killed and about half as many missing by President Volodymyr Zelensky, indicates the toll of the trench fighting that often leaves bodies abandoned in buffer areas.
The government’s efforts to confirm deaths are hindered by bureaucracy and a lack of centralized genetic data to identify bodies. Families often take matters into their own hands, going from morgue to morgue to identify their loved ones. A law passed in 2022 aimed to streamline the identification process by allowing soldiers to donate genetic samples in advance, but progress has been slow. Poor communication from military commanders and the reluctance of some families to submit DNA samples further complicate the process.
The sheer volume of missing soldiers is demoralizing for Ukraine’s society and military leadership, adding to the pressure on President Zelensky. Families of missing soldiers receive monthly salaries until their loved ones are officially declared dead, with delays potentially costing the government hundreds of millions. The Ministry of Defense keeps maps of Ukrainian remains on the battlefield, hoping to retrieve them when the lines shift, but the lengthy investigations of suspected deaths mean families face agonizing uncertainty.
The historical parallels to the world wars highlight the continuing struggle to find and identify soldiers missing in action. As the war drags on, families become more desperate for answers, with some resorting to fortune tellers in search of hope. Frustration among civilians has led to protests in Kyiv, calling for more accountability for missing soldiers. The families of Pvt. Zaretsky and Pvt. Matsiuk learned about the fate of their loved ones from a surviving friend, highlighting the tragic circumstances faced by many families affected by the war.
The lack of closure and unanswered questions surrounding missing soldiers have taken a toll on Ukrainian society, with the continued uncertainty adding to the stress faced by families of soldiers. The overload of casualties has made it difficult for the military to keep up with the needs of families seeking official confirmation of deaths. The emotional and financial burden on families, combined with the challenges of bureaucracy and communication issues within the military, exacerbate the anguish experienced by those seeking closure for their missing loved ones.
