A total of 257 persons are considered missing in the areas occupied by pro-Russian forces in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine said in an updated report.
"According to the database of the Joint Center for the Coordination of the Search and Release of Persons Illegally Deprived of Liberty in the Area of Implementation of Measures to Ensure National Security and Defense, Rebuff, and Deterrence of the Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation in Donetsk and Luhansk Regions, 257 persons have gone missing, while 240 persons have been illegally deprived of liberty," the SBU told RFE/RL.
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Security officials added that Kyiv is taking measures aimed to have all "persons illegally deprived of liberty and hostages held in temporarily occupied territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions" released.
"Relevant proposals on this issue are regularly submitted for consideration by the Trilateral Contact Group on the Peaceful Settlement in eastern Ukraine and processed by international humanitarian organizations involved in the Minsk format. Work in these directions continues," the agency assured.
As UNIAN reported, on August 30, the International Committee of the Red Cross reported together with the Red Cross Society of Ukraine, they have registered cases on 700 missing persons throughout period of Donbas hostilities.
