Searching for a detained civilian or a deported child
The guides below are drafts: a lawyer has not reviewed them yet. This is not legal advice.
Draft What human rights defenders advise
Searching for a detained civilian or a deported child
What is known. Russia rarely confirms it holds civilians. Figures differ: Ukraine's Ombudsman (June 2026) cites 1,878 confirmed cases, MIHR (August 2026) at least 2,614 people still held, and the UN estimates over 16,000 civilians deprived of liberty. The ICRC last visited detainees in Russia in 2024. According to the UN, 85% of released civilians reported torture.
First step. If you are in Ukraine-controlled territory or abroad, file a written statement with Ukraine's National Police. The Center for Civil Liberties advises demanding victim status in it: a call to the police hotline does not open a case. The person is entered in the Unified Register of persons missing under special circumstances; advice on 1698. Report to the National Information Bureau: 1648, from abroad +380 44 287 81 65, bot @nib_uncp_bot.
The Coordination Headquarters also handles civilians: 0 800 300 529, from abroad +38 044 390 43 90, applications via a personal account with Bank ID or Diia.Pidpys. Its website belongs to Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR), so contacting it directly is dangerous for people in Russia or under occupation. Ukraine's Ombudsman: 1678, from abroad +380 44 299 74 08; it passes lists of civilians to the ICRC.
From Russia the safest channel is the ICRC, which works there legally. You can send a tracing request online (the form is available in Russian) or call: in Russia 8 800 600 92 69 (free) or +7 495 626 54 26, in Ukraine 0 800 300 155. The ICRC works confidentially and does not promise results.
Searching via human rights groups. KHPG hotline 0 800 20 24 02 (free from Ukrainian numbers): lawyers send about 40 requests per person and found over 30% of those reported. MIHR collects testimonies from relatives and released people. MIHR is 'undesirable' in Russia, and KHPG reportedly is too (not confirmed), so relatives outside Russia should be the ones to contact them.
Children. According to the Children of War portal, as of 26 September 2026, 20,651 children were deported or forcibly transferred and 2,644 returned. A UN commission found the deportation of children to be a crime against humanity: children are given Russian citizenship and put on adoption databases. You can report a child via the form on childrenofwar.gov.ua. Save Ukraine helps bring children back: 0 800 333 129, including when parents are in Ukraine or Europe.
Check numbers against official websites. Old guides still list disconnected numbers, such as the Ombudsman's former line 0 800 50 17 20. Keep a record of where and when you applied. You don't need to apply to the Coordination Headquarters twice.
Designations of organisations in this guide: Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR) (undesirable); Center for Civil Liberties (undesirable). Contacting them carries a risk: do not write from a phone that may be seized, and do not repost their materials.
Charity that evacuates children, families and young people from occupied areas, Russia and Belarus, including when the child is there and parents are in Ukraine or Europe; route advice, then shelter, documents and psychological support. Reports 1,763 children rescued.
Работает именно с людьми в оккупации и в России и обещает конфиденциальность. Номер 0 800 бесплатный с украинских номеров. След контакта в телефоне опасен при проверках. Статус в России не найден (независимых сообщений нет).
contact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026
Ukrainian state body. Staff work permanently at the Domanove crossing; passes lists of detained civilians to the ICRC and the Russian side; works on returns from deportation centres and the Georgian border; takes reports on property seizure; consultation centre on finding children.
Переписка с украинским госорганом на телефоне опасна при проверках. Старая линия 0 800 50 17 20 на сайте отключена, хотя ещё встречается в памятках. Безопаснее, чтобы обращались родственники вне оккупации и России. Госорган Украины; статусов по российским реестрам не найдено.
Neutral intermediary: takes family requests to trace missing military and civilians, passes information and family messages. Visits detainees in Ukraine; last visit in Russia was in 2024. Works confidentially.
Самый безопасный канал для тех, кто в России или в оккупации: есть бесплатный российский номер. Гарантий результата нет. В оккупированных частях Херсонской и Запорожской областей МККК не присутствует. Работает в России официально (делегация в Москве, команды в Донецке и Луганске).
Ukrainian state body negotiating exchanges and returns. Also handles civilians: a separate roadmap for families and a civilians working group. Applications via a personal account (Bank ID or Diia.Pidpys). Regional lines for Kherson region and Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia.
Высокий риск для человека в оккупации или в России: контакт со структурой военной разведки Украины может стать поводом для дела о госизмене или шпионаже. Обращаться должны родственники на подконтрольной территории или за рубежом. Статус в России не найден. На сайте указано, что он принадлежит ГУР Минобороны Украины (военная разведка).
Records POWs, detained civilians, deported and missing people; takes reports on captivity, disappearance, deportation and forced mobilisation in occupied areas; passes them to law enforcement, international missions and the Coordination HQ.
Звонок и бот оставляют след. Безопаснее, чтобы сообщали родственники вне России и оккупации. Госорган Украины; статуса не найдено.
Keeps the Unified Register of persons missing under special circumstances, issues free extracts, advises, organises DNA sampling. The status starts with a written application to the National Police.
Заявление подают в полицию Украины, то есть родственник на подконтрольной территории. Человеку в России или в оккупации напрямую лучше не связываться. Орган МВД Украины; статуса не найдено.
Presidential initiative to find and return deported children. Keeps the official counter; lists vetted partners that help people leave (Save Ukraine, Helping to Leave and others).
Госинициатива Украины. Семье в оккупации или в России прямой контакт рискован; для выезда инициатива сама отсылает к партнёрам. Статус в России не найден.
contact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026
Ukrainian state portal: figures on children and a one-click form to report a child's disappearance, deportation, whereabouts or forced change of citizenship to the police, Prosecutor General and NIB. Ombudsman consultation centre.
Формы уходят прямо в правоохранительные органы Украины. Из России и оккупации лучше передать данные родственнику в безопасном месте. Госпортал Украины; статуса не найдено.
contact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026
Hotline searching for missing civilians and POWs in occupied areas and Russia: lawyers send about 40 requests per person and found over 30% of those reported. Free legal and psychological help for relatives.
Пока статус не проверен, исходить из риска по ст. 20.33 КоАП и ст. 284.1 УК. Обращаться безопаснее родственникам вне России и оккупации. Внесение в перечень «нежелательных» в декабре 2025 года подтверждено только российским СМИ и Википедией; независимого подтверждения не нашли. Для безопасности считать «нежелательной».
Documents abductions of civilians, Russian sentences against Ukrainians and places of detention; takes testimonies from relatives and released people; campaigns for the release of civilians.
Передача свидетельств из России или оккупации может быть расценена как участие в «нежелательной» организации. Обращаться безопаснее родственникам вне России. ІМІ и «Детектор медіа», 12.05.2026: Генпрокуратура РФ признала МИПЛ «нежелательной».