The Russian Red Cross has received more than 1,500 reports of missing persons in the Kursk region as fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces continues.
The surge in reports comes as the Armed Forces of Ukraine push deeper into Russian territory.
A spokesperson for the Russian Red Cross told Vedomosti on Monday that, out of the 1,500 people reported missing between August 11 and August 19, only 100 have been found alive.
They also noted that the number of reports does not necessarily reflect the exact number of missing persons, as multiple reports could be related to a single individual.
Liza Alert, a nonprofit organization that helps search for missing people, reported receiving 779 requests for assistance in the Kursk region since the Ukrainian offensive began two weeks ago. Of these, 111 cases have been resolved, with the missing individuals located.
The situation has become more difficult as the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office recently blocked a VK social network page dedicated to finding people in the Kursk town of Sudzha.
Local authorities have also warned residents not to post personal information about missing people on social media, stating that it could be used by Ukrainian groups for psychological warfare.
Liza Alert announced on Friday that it would delete all posts about missing civilians in the Kursk region from its website due to a rise in fraudulent activities.
The conflict in the Kursk region has made it extremely challenging for families to find their missing loved ones. The Red Cross and other organizations are working hard to help, but the situation remains difficult.
