KYIV, May 22: Hundreds of Ukrainians marched in Kyiv on Friday, calling on the government to veto Bill No. 13646, which deals with the legal status of missing persons. Families of missing soldiers say the proposed legislation could allow courts to declare their loved ones legally dead before their fate has been confirmed, intensifying fears among relatives already living with uncertainty. Protesters insisted the law should not equate missing soldiers with confirmed fatalities and urged the government to protect families’ rights and hopes for clarity.
The demonstration comes amid deep public concern over Ukraine’s missing persons crisis. More than 90,000 people are listed in the country’s official registry of those who disappeared under special circumstances, according to the commissioner for missing persons. The database includes both military personnel and civilians, with cases dating back to 2014, when Russia first annexed Crimea and conflict began in eastern Ukraine. The registry was formally established in 2023 to consolidate fragmented records, particularly following the full-scale invasion in February 2022, which sharply increased the number of missing.
Meanwhile, the war continues to intensify across multiple fronts. Russian-installed authorities in occupied Luhansk said a Ukrainian drone strike on a college dormitory killed four people and injured 39, while claiming that up to 18 more may be trapped under rubble. Ukraine did not immediately comment. Russia also reported intercepting more than 200 Ukrainian drones across several regions, including Moscow and St Petersburg, in what it described as widespread overnight attacks.
Ukraine, meanwhile, said it struck Russian energy infrastructure, including a refinery in Yaroslavl—reportedly hit for the fourth time this month—as part of efforts to disrupt Moscow’s war logistics and fuel supply chains. Russian attacks also continued, with Ukrainian officials reporting drone and missile strikes that injured civilians in Sumy and killed one person in Kherson. The United Nations has recorded a 21% increase in verified Ukrainian civilian casualties in the first part of this year compared with the same period last year.
International support for Ukraine continues, with the United States approving a $108 million arms package to strengthen air defence systems, even as overall military aid has been reduced under President Donald Trump. Ukrainian forces also claim recent battlefield gains in southern regions, attributed to improved domestic drone capabilities and Russian operational constraints.
At the same time, Ukrainian leaders have warned of potential new Russian operations involving Belarus, citing intelligence shared at a NATO meeting. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia is attempting to draw Belarus deeper into the conflict, raising regional security concerns. (AP)
