Russia provides list of Ukrainian citizens forcibly taken from Sumy Oblast
Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets has said that Russia has provided a list of citizens whom Russian forces took from the village of Hrabovske in Sumy Oblast.
Source: Lubinets in an interview with Radio Liberty
Details: Lubinets said the Russian side had also informed Ukraine where the taken people are being held and under what conditions.
"They even sent me photographs and videos of communication with them about whether they have any complaints regarding food, medicines, water, or living conditions. There are 52 people, and there are no children among them," he said.
The commissioner added that negotiations on returning these people to Ukraine are currently underway.
Quote: "At present, they [the people taken by Russia – ed.] are in one of the frontline regions of the Russian Federation. They are there as civilians. We have officially been told that there are no restrictions on them. I urgently contacted Moskalkova to have them physically returned to the territory of Ukraine." [Tatyana Moskalkova is the Russian Human Rights Commissioner – ed.]
Details: Lubinets is convinced that Russia will put forward certain conditions for their return.
Background:
- On 20 December, local media outlet Kordon.Media reported that Russian forces entered the border village of Hrabovske in Sumy Oblast on the night of 19-20 December.
- On 21 December, the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that Russian forces had crossed the state border near Hrabovske and forcibly taken over 50 civilians to Russia. The military reported that stabilisation measures are currently underway there.
- DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts, said that the group of Ukrainian fighters holding the border section in Hrabovske had acted irresponsibly in carrying out their tasks, which led to Russian forces entering the area.
- On 22 December, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian forces had captured 52 civilians from Hrabovske, including some children, and taken 13 Ukrainian service members captive.
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