In Ukraine, there is a clear procedure for families of soldiers who have gone missing or been taken prisoner. The Ministry of Justice has reminded the public of this, publishing a list of institutions and contacts to reach out to, along with explanations of the rights and benefits available to the relatives of such service members.
The first step is to inform law enforcement and authorized agencies, providing as much information as possible about the soldier: personal details, copies of documents, circumstances of the disappearance, contact information of fellow soldiers, photographs, and distinctive features. Applications can be submitted to the National Police, the National Information Bureau, the Commissioner for Persons Missing Under Special Circumstances, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the Security Service of Ukraine, or the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Families are also entitled to obtain an extract from the Unified Register of Persons Missing Under Special Circumstances. Applications are submitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs either in paper or electronic form. The document is issued within 10 working days, or up to 30 days if additional verification is required.
The family’s financial rights depend on the service member’s status. If the soldier is missing, they continue to receive their base salary, rank pay, seniority allowances, and other regular payments, as well as an additional monthly reward of 100,000 hryvnias. These funds are allocated to the family members specified in the soldier’s personal order for cases of captivity, or to relatives defined by law. Payments continue until a court decision comes into effect declaring the soldier missing or deceased.
To arrange payments, family members must submit an application to the commander of the military unit along with the necessary documents — passports, certificates, proof of residence, and tax identification code. The application is reviewed within 15 days, after which the commander issues a written decision.
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