Throughout 2025, search efforts were conducted for 773 minors reported missing in Russia, and 704 of them were found.
The statement was made by Evgeniy Artemov, Deputy Head of the Department for Relations with Civil Society Institutions and the Media at the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to the information provided, 146 of those reported missing were children under the age of 14.
Between January and March 2026, 206 new missing person reports were filed for minors, 35 of whom were very young.
During this period, the whereabouts of 180 individuals were determined, including 26 young children. Including cases from previous years, the total number of missing minors still unlocated has reached 976.
Artemov stated that a significant portion of those missing are teenagers who have run away from children's homes and troubled families. He also noted that some children do not want to be found and therefore try to hide from their parents, guardians, caregivers, and the police.