Families Of Missing Russian Soldiers Ask Ukraine Government For Help Finding Them

KEY POINTS

Audio recordings showed families of Russian soldiers in a desperate search for their loved ones in Ukraine, says a report
Russian families whose loved ones have been killed can decide how to pick up or transfer their bodies
Families whose loved one has been captured may leave them a short message

Thousands of family members and friends of missing Russian soldiers have turned to the Ukrainian government to help them find their relatives amid the invasion.

Audio recordings and transcripts published by CNN on Monday showed parents, wives, siblings and friends of Russian soldiers engaged in a desperate search for their loved ones as Moscow continues its siege of Ukraine.

The recordings were shared by Ukrainian officials operating the “Come Back from Ukraine Alive” service, a hotline set up by Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, where Russian families may receive information whether their loved one is still alive, captured, injured or killed in the conflict.

The families will then decide how to pick up or transfer the body of their loved ones home. If the Russian soldier has been captured, their families can leave them a short message.

"First of all, we will help [the Russian soldiers] find their relatives who were deceived and without knowing where and why they are going and found themselves in our country. And secondly, we will help to stop the war in general," Kristina, a woman tasked with running the hotline, told CNN.

Since the hotline was established on Feb. 24, officials operating the service said they have received over 6,000 calls. While the majority of the calls originated from Russia and Ukraine, some calls came from across Europe and the United States.

In addition to the hotline, the Ukrainian government has also created the Telegram channel “Find Your Mission” or “Ishi Svouik” where information about Russian soldiers who were captured, injured or killed in the fight is posted. The information may include passports, names, dog tags and military unit information.

As of Tuesday, it is estimated that up to 4,000 Russian troops have died since President Vladimir Putin first announced Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, according to senior U.S. military officer Lt. Gen. Scott D. Berrier. However, he noted that the figures came from assessments made public by outside groups monitoring the fighting.

Since Feb. 24, more than 470 civilians, including 29 children, have been killed, according to the United Nations.