Civilians exploited as human shields during Russian attack on Pokrovsk

It has emerged that Russian commanders ordered their troops to use civilians as a "human shield" during an assault on the south-eastern outskirts of the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast on 10 November.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office; Security Service of Ukraine

Quote: "Investigators have established that representatives of the armed forces of the aggressor state once again cynically violated the norms of international humanitarian law on 10 November 2025.

At around 14:30, a Russian Armed Forces commander issued an instruction via radio to his subordinates who had entered Pokrovsk, ordering them to use the civilian population as a human shield."

Details: The commander ordered Russian troops to force detained civilians – a man, a woman and a 13-year-old child – to walk ahead of them during a mop-up operation of populated areas.

The prosecutors reported, citing early data, that the order had been given to the 1st Motor Rifle Battalion of the 506th Motor Rifle Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces, which was attacking the south-eastern outskirts of Pokrovsk.

Investigative and search operations are ongoing to establish the circumstances of the incident, identify those responsible and determine the fate of the civilians.

The pre-trial investigation is being carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.

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