211 children reported missing in Ukraine amid war with Russia - police

Police are searching for 211 children who have gone missing since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in late February.

Oleksii Serhieiev, head of the department for organizational and analytical support and rapid response of the National Police, said this at a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine - Ukrinform.

"In the period from February 24, National Police bodies received reports about 4,353 missing children. Law enforcement officers managed to find 4,143 children, and 211 are still missing," he said.

Serhieiev specified that about 190 children received appeals from close relatives that they lost contact with them after the occupation of the regions of permanent residence or during evacuation from such regions.

"According to available information, nine of these children were taken by the invading forces to the territory not controlled by Ukraine," he added.