Russians lead civilians to gas pipeline, use them as a human shield, then open fire on them – video

Ukraine's National Guard's 2nd Khartiia Corps has reported that Russian forces led a group of civilians from Kupiansk to the Shebelynka-Ostrohozk gas pipeline in Kharkiv Oblast, then fired on them with mortars and artillery. There are likely to be casualties amongst the civilians.

Source: the Khartiia Corps on Telegram

Quote: "Civilians are used as a human shield by the Russians, who then use them as targets to stage a provocation for propaganda purposes. In Kupiansk, the Russians used civilians as cover, leading them to the gas pipeline, and then shelled the group themselves with mortars and artillery. The group included women and a child."

Details: Russian troops led the group of civilians towards the Shebelynka-Ostrohozk gas pipeline on the morning of 13 October. The group consisted of two women, a child and several men. Along the way, they came under mortar and artillery fire several times.

Footage from reconnaissance drones operated by units in the Khartiia Corps' area of responsibility shows that there are casualties among the civilians.

Ukrainian troops did not open fire. Based on the pattern of the explosions, Khartiia established that the attacks came from the eastern bank of the Oskil River, from Russian-occupied territory.

Quote: "We emphasise that this attack was a deliberate provocation and warn that Russian media may use footage from the scene to accuse Ukraine of attacking civilians."

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