Families of people with disabilities who resided in Ukrainian institutional care facilities before the 2022 Russian invasion continue to report that their relatives remain missing or unaccounted for. Four years into the conflict, international human rights monitors and advocacy groups highlight a lack of systematic information regarding the evacuation, current location, or health status of thousands of individuals who were transferred out of state-run boarding schools, psychiatric wards, and nursing homes as front lines shifted.
The uncertainty surrounding these vulnerable populations stems from the chaotic nature of evacuations during the early months of the war and the subsequent lack of access for independent monitors in Russian-occupied territories. According to a Human Rights Watch report, thousands of residents in residential institutions were left behind or forcibly relocated, with little to no communication provided to their legal guardians or family members. The absence of a centralized registry for these displaced persons has left many families navigating a fragmented search process involving the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and various Ukrainian government portals.
The Scope of the Crisis in Institutional Care
Before the full-scale invasion, Ukraine housed approximately 260,000 children and adults in various forms of institutionalized care, ranging from orphanages to psycho-neurological boarding houses, as documented by Disability Rights International. When the conflict intensified, the evacuation of these facilities was often left to local administrators, who frequently faced impossible choices while under fire or occupation.
In many instances, staff were forced to move residents to basements or attempt evacuations toward safer regions, but records were often lost or abandoned during the process. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has raised concerns regarding the treatment of persons with disabilities in occupied territories, noting that the disruption of care services and the lack of documentation have led to situations where residents are effectively “disappeared” within the state system.
Challenges in Tracing the Missing
For families, the search for relatives is complicated by the lack of transparency from occupying authorities. In areas currently under Russian control, the transfer of individuals—including children and adults with cognitive or physical disabilities—often occurs without the consent of families or legal representatives. The International Committee of the Red Cross serves as a primary intermediary for tracing, yet they have repeatedly stated that access to detention centers and social care facilities in occupied zones remains severely limited.
Ukrainian authorities have established the “Children of War” portal to track minors forcibly relocated or missing, but no equivalent, comprehensive public database exists for adults with disabilities. This legislative and administrative gap leaves families to rely on informal networks, social media groups, and sporadic reports from liberated territories to piece together the fate of their loved ones.
Human Rights and Legal Implications
The forced transfer of civilians from occupied territory is a violation of the Geneva Conventions, which mandate the protection of vulnerable persons and the maintenance of family links. International legal experts argue that the failure to account for individuals in state-run institutions constitutes a systematic failure to protect the right to life and liberty. According to the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, the Ukrainian government has an ongoing obligation to track these individuals, even when they are physically beyond the reach of state services.
While the Ukrainian government has attempted to centralize data through the Ministry of Social Policy, the challenges of verifying information in active combat zones remain immense. Advocacy groups emphasize that without a robust, internationally monitored mechanism to demand information from the Russian Federation regarding these institutions, the number of “unaccounted for” individuals will likely continue to rise.
Next Steps for Affected Families
Families seeking information are encouraged to utilize official channels to ensure their search is part of the national record. The State Border Guard Service and the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) are the primary entities tasked with human rights oversight and missing person registry management.
As the conflict continues, the next significant update regarding the status of missing civilians is expected through the periodic reports released by the UN Commission of Inquiry, which conducts ongoing investigations into potential war crimes and humanitarian violations. Readers are encouraged to share this report to assist in raising awareness for families who remain in search of answers. Official inquiries can be directed to the Office of the Ombudsman in Kyiv for those seeking formal assistance in locating institutionalized relatives.
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