Russian units from the 36th Brigade entered the area near the border village of Hrabovske and took around 50 Ukrainian citizens to Russia. Most of those deported were men, says Victor Trehubov, Head of Communications for the Joint Forces, speaking on Suspilne.
Since the village is located directly on the Russian border, it had mostly been evacuated. Those who remained had refused to leave.
Regardless of whether Ukrainian civilians wanted to evacuate or stay, under international humanitarian law, the act of forcibly removing civilians constitutes a war crime and is effectively an abduction of civilians.
Ukrainian forces are now pushing the occupiers back
The abduction by Russian forces became known on 20 December. On Sunday morning, the Ukrainian Armed Forces command confirmed the transfer of civilians to Russian territory.
Trehubov added that Russian troops attempted to advance about one kilometer into Ukrainian territory overnight.
While these actions did not appear to be part of a large-scale breakthrough or major military operation, fighting continued through the night in the area, and Ukrainian forces are now conducting operations to push the occupiers back.
The military spokesperson emphasized that these Russian actions lack strategic goals and may be intended as a political or informational attack, resembling a localized provocation rather than a full-scale operation.
Ukraine does not know the whereabouts of civilians taken by Russia
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets stated that he has requested the Russian Human Rights Commissioner to provide information on the current location of the illegally deported Ukrainians, the conditions in which they are being held, and immediate measures to return them to Ukraine.
Lubinets has also sent a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross and called on the international community to give a proper legal assessment of Russia’s actions and to use all available mechanisms of influence to stop the illegal deportation of Ukraine’s civilian population.
