Russian troops have forcibly removed 25 civilians from the temporarily occupied part of Kharkiv Region. They include children, young people and the elderly. It is currently unknown where they are and under what conditions they are being held.
This was reported by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets.
According to him, the occupiers describe their actions as an “evacuation”, but available video footage indicates pressure and intimidation of people. Lubinets stresses that evacuation must take place for the safety of civilians, with respect for their rights and with their consent.
The Ombudsman is particularly concerned about the fate of the children who were taken away without proper information about their subsequent whereabouts.
In addition, Lubinets said the occupiers have created a Telegram bot to collect personal data under the pretext of evacuation. He urged people not to send passport details, addresses, phone numbers or documents—either their own or their children’s—through it, as this information could be used against them or their relatives.
The Ombudsman noted that the forced transfer and deportation of the population from occupied territory contravene international humanitarian law, in particular Article 49 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.
Lubinets has already contacted Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner, demanding that she disclose the whereabouts of all 25 civilians, provide information on the conditions in which they are being held, hand over full details of those taken away, and take steps to ensure their return to Ukraine.
He also called on the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UN and other international organisations to join the response to the situation.
- In December last year, Russian servicemen forcibly took about 50 Ukrainian citizens to their territory from Sumy Region. They were held without access to means of communication and in inadequate conditions, and were then forcibly taken to the territory of the Russian Federation.