“They did not want to kill civilians”: Why did Ukraine let Russians escape with 52 abducted Ukrainians from border village?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has shared details about Russia's abduction of 52 Ukrainian civilians from the border village of Hrabovske, located in Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast.

According to the head of state, the village lies directly on the border with Russia and is effectively split by the state boundary, which created an illusion of “normal life” for some local residents.

Who stayed in the village and why they did not evacuate

Zelenskyy has noted that 52 civilians remained in Hrabovske for a long time, categorically refusing to evacuate despite repeated efforts by the Ukrainian authorities to persuade them.

“There were 52 civilians there, citizens of Ukraine, who did not evacuate, no matter how much our people talked to them. This has been going on for a long time, not just months,” the Ukrainian president emphasized.

Among those abducted were 17–18 people of conscription age, while the rest were women and children. Zelenskyy has admitted he was surprised that children were present in a combat zone and by the parents’ decision not to take them to safer areas.

Illusions of “ties” with Russia and a fatal mistake

The Ukrainian leader has suggested that some residents may have had everyday or family connections with people across the border, which could have influenced their decision to stay.

“People have lived like this for many years. I think they simply did not expect that ‘Russian’ soldiers would come in and take them captive,” Zelenskyy said.

He stressed that no personal ties or illusions stopped the occupiers, as people were simply abducted and taken away.

Why didn't Ukrainian forces strike the occupiers? 

Zelenskyy has also reported that 13 Ukrainian soldiers were taken prisoner by Russia, though details of those circumstances are still unclear.

At the same time, he has emphasized that the Ukrainian Defense Forces had the capability to eliminate the enemy using artillery and drones, but deliberately refrained from doing so.

“They could have eliminated them from a distance with artillery and drones. They simply chose not to, because civilians were there. They did not want to kill civilians,” the president stressed.

According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian positions in the Hrabovske area will be restored, and the abduction of civilians is yet another confirmation of Russia’s terrorist tactics.