Ukrainian Armed Forces confirm Russians took away more than 50 civilians from Sumy Oblast

Russian forces have crossed Ukraine's state border near the village of Hrabovske in Sumy Oblast and taken more than 50 civilians away from the area.

Source: Dmytro Lykhovii, spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda

Details: Lykhovii said that Ukraine's defence forces withdrew from several positions near Hrabovske as a result of the Russian offensive. Stabilisation measures are currently under way in the area, he clarified.

After Russian forces seized the settlement, more than 50 Ukrainian civilians were forcibly taken to the territory of the Russian Federation. Most of them are elderly men and women; one of the women is 89 years old. Almost all of them had previously refused to evacuate deeper into Ukrainian-controlled territory, Lykhovii stressed.

Law enforcement agencies have already launched an investigation into the forced deportation of civilians, while the Ukrainian Armed Forces regard these actions as a violation of the Geneva Conventions.

The military also urged residents of border areas to evacuate. The Sumy Oblast authorities have organised the evacuation process: more than 30,000 people have already been evacuated, while almost 5,700 others, including 38 children, have refused to leave, Lykhovii added.

Background: Earlier, media outlets reported that on the night of 19-20 December, Russian forces entered the border village of Hrabovske in Sumy Oblast.

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