As the war between Russia and Ukraine continues, families of missing Russian soldiers are increasingly turning to digital tools in a desperate search for answers. With limited communication from military authorities and restricted access to independent information, some relatives have begun using Google Maps to trace the whereabouts of their loved ones.
For many families, the uncertainty begins when communication suddenly stops. Russian soldiers often use messaging platforms such as Telegram to stay in touch while deployed. When a soldier goes offline for days or weeks without explanation, fear quickly sets in. Officials frequently provide little clarity, leaving families with few options beyond conducting their own searches.
In response, some relatives have started examining publicly available satellite imagery to identify areas where units were last known to be stationed. Others have taken a more direct and emotional approach—posting messages in the review sections of locations listed on Google Maps. Hospitals, morgues, military facilities, and even small towns near front-line regions have become digital message boards for anxious families seeking information.
One frequently mentioned location is Rostov’s Military Hospital No. 1602, located in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. The city has reportedly become a key transit point where the bodies of Russian soldiers killed in the war are transported. On the hospital’s Google Maps page, several individuals have left detailed posts asking whether missing relatives have been admitted.
A woman identifying herself as Zulya Galimova wrote a heartbreaking message in the review section. She provided her son’s full name, date of birth, the date he went missing, and even his call sign. “Please help. Mom,” she concluded. Similar posts have appeared from siblings and spouses who say they were told their loved ones had died and were possibly being held in a morgue in the Rostov region. Some include photographs in the hope that someone might recognize the missing soldier and respond.
Despite the emotional appeals, there have reportedly been no official replies from the hospital to these online reviews. For many families, the silence only deepens their distress.
Google Maps has also become an outlet for wounded soldiers to describe conditions at medical facilities. One injured serviceman complained online about the lack of proper hot water, poor-quality food, and aging infrastructure that he claimed had not been modernized since Soviet times. Such reviews offer rare glimpses into conditions that might otherwise remain unreported.
Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the government of President Vladimir Putin has tightened control over information within Russia. Major Western social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and X, were blocked shortly after the invasion began. Later, access to YouTube was slowed, and encrypted messaging services such as Signal faced restrictions. WhatsApp has also experienced blocking measures.
Although Google itself has not been completely banned, some of its services have reportedly faced disruptions. At the same time, Russian authorities have encouraged the use of domestic alternatives. Yandex, for example, is promoted as a substitute for Google’s services.
However, users note differences between mapping platforms. On Google Maps, international borders near southern Russia and the Azov Sea region are clearly marked when zooming in. In contrast, Yandex Maps has reportedly removed certain border lines, making geographic orientation more difficult in some areas.
For families grappling with uncertainty, these digital spaces have become more than navigation tools—they are lifelines. In the absence of transparent official communication, Google Maps reviews and satellite imagery represent one of the few accessible avenues for seeking information.
The situation underscores how modern conflicts extend beyond battlefields and into the digital world. As long as questions remain unanswered, families of missing soldiers are likely to continue using every tool available—even online map reviews—in their search for closure.
