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Ukraine Condemns Russia’s Kidnapping of Civilians as Deliberate Provocation, Demands Their Return
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![Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk]( "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
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Russian forces have forcibly detained and deported about 50 Ukrainian civilians from the village of Hrabovske in Ukraine’s eastern Sumy region, Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, confirmed in a Telegram post on December 21.
Lubinets said Russian troops illegally detained residents of the border village on December 18, held them without access to communication or proper conditions, and on December 20 transported them into Russian territory. He described the actions as a grave violation of international humanitarian law, including unlawful detention and the forced deportation of civilians.
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The Ukrainian ombudsman said he has formally appealed to Russia’s human rights commissioner and contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross, demanding information on the whereabouts and conditions of the deported civilians and calling for their immediate return.
Ukrainian military officials said Russian troops from the 36th Brigade briefly entered Hrabovske on December 20, attempting to create a limited infiltration zone near the border.
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Officer of the Main Communications Directorate Dmytro Lykhovii confirmed in a comment to Ukrainian Pravda that up to 50 civilians, mostly elderly men and women who had previously refused evacuation, were taken from the village. One of the abducted residents is reportedly 89 years old.
According to Ukraine’s Joint Forces Task Force, fighting continued overnight as Ukrainian forces moved to push Russian troops out of the area.
Officials stressed the situation does not appear to be a grand offensive, but rather a localized provocation, with the abduction of civilians likely aimed at political or information pressure.
Commissioner Lubinets urged the international community to give a legal assessment of Russia’s actions and use all available mechanisms to stop the forced deportation of Ukrainian civilians, while again calling on residents of frontline areas to evacuate due to the ongoing danger.
Previously, it was reported that around 50 residents of the village of Hrabovske in Ukraine’s eastern Sumy region, about 200 meters from the Russian border, were kidnapped into Russia, local officials told Suspilne on December 20. The village lies about 200 meters from the Russian border.
The village head, Larysa Kremezna, told Suspilne by phone that roughly 50 people remained in Hrabovske at the time and were transported to Russian territory. She said there were no children among those taken.
