Person missing after shelling: what to do to avoid losing time

Russian attacks continue, and the risk remains that a relative, friend or colleague may go missing. In the first-hour rush after a shelling, phone service may fail. People may evacuate without lists. Those injured may be taken to hospitals without documents, or relatives may end up in different shelters. In such situations, waiting in uncertainty can cost time. Action is needed immediately: check hospitals and evacuation points in parallel and record information for police. Frontliner outlines steps to avoid losing critical hours.

Start with a brief checklist: where the person was during the shelling, where they could have gone, either a shelter, basement, metro station or building entrance, and who they were with.

Record the time of last contact, phone numbers, messaging accounts and possible routes. If possible, save screenshots of the last messages and calls, location data, a recent photo, and a description of clothing and identifying features.

At the same time, check common scenarios: the person may have lost the phone or has a dead battery. He may appear in an area without network coverage, hospital without the ability to call, or evacuated from the strike area.

Do not wait – contact police

Searches begin faster when a disappearance is officially registered. Police accept missing person reports immediately and advise against delays.

Prepare, if available: the applicant’s passport, documents confirming family ties, a photo of the missing person, identifying features, clothing, and the place and circumstances of the disappearance.

Who to call: official contacts

102 — 24/7 police emergency line.
0-800-21-21-51 — police hotline for reports of missing or abducted persons, 24/7.
0-800-500-202 — National Police hotline.
1698 — hotline of the commissioner for missing persons under special circumstances, Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
0-800-103-333 — consultations on the Missing Persons Registry, according to the National Police.
116 000 — hotline for missing children.

Tips that save time

What saves time most is acting in parallel and sticking to facts. Assign roles: one person contacts police and files the report, another checks hospitals and emergency departments, another checks nearby shelters and looks for witnesses.

In calls and statements, provide facts: the exact time and place of last contact, possible route, circumstances of the disappearance during shelling, and contacts of those who last saw the person. Prepare a recent photo, a description of clothing and identifying features, and key medical information. This speeds up alerts and verification of leads. Set one family point of contact for information. When details are collected in one place, there is less risk of duplication or confusion.

How to keep hope

Searches are long but consist of small, clear steps. Keep one file or notebook listing what has been done, who was contacted, responses received, and which hospitals and addresses have been checked. This helps avoid repeating the same steps as fatigue sets in.

During the war, people often go missing for technical reasons — dead phones, no signal, evacuation without notice. The best support in the first hours is a clear process: write down facts, file a report, and keep checking the places the person may have gone.

Adapted: Kateryna Saienko

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Frontliner wishes to acknowledge the financial assistance of the European Union though its Frontline and Investigative Reporting project (FAIR Media Ukraine), implemented by Internews International in partnership with the Media Development Foundation (MDF). Frontliner retains full editorial independence and the information provided here does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union, Internews International or MDF.