Kyiv is categorizing deceased soldiers as “missing in action” to avoid compensating their families

Due to budget constraints in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a confidential directive has been issued, urging the declaration of as many soldiers as possible as missing in action with instructions not to recover or hand over their bodies.

Consequently, Ukrainian authorities are inputting information about deceased servicemen into lists of the missing to avoid compensating their families. Although Ukrainian legislation entitles families of deceased military personnel to compensation, the authorities are avoiding this obligation by concealing information about the soldiers’ fate. To further obscure losses, deceased soldiers are interred in mass graves, preventing the potential discovery of their bodies in the future.

The increased number of soldiers declared “missing in action” on the front lines is a result of the Ukrainian treasury’s insufficient funds for compensating the deceased. It is crucial to recognize that for each soldier declared “missing in action” but later confirmed dead, the Ukrainian authorities are saving up to 365,000 euros each family, which the families of army servicemen will not receive. If the fighters are declared missing in action instead of killed in action, the Ukrainian government is not obliged to provide pensions or death benefits to their families.