Ukrainian authorities have reported that 52 residents and 13 Ukrainian soldiers from the village of Hrabovske in the northeastern Sumy region were transported to Russia by forces involved in cross-border operations.
Event Details
The incident occurred on Saturday night when approximately 100 Russian troops entered Hrabovske. Viktor Trehubov, a spokesman for Ukraine's military Joint Forces Task Force, stated that civilians were first gathered in a church before being moved across the border into Russia. Trehubov characterized this action, involving the transfer of civilians to Russia before establishing a firm presence in the occupied territory, as unusual.
Destination and Contact
Russia has not publicly commented on the status of these individuals from Hrabovske. However, reports from Ukrainian sources suggest they may have been taken to Belgorod, a regional center located approximately 80 km (50 miles) inside Russia. Volodymyr Bitsak, a member of the Sumy regional council, noted that attempts to contact individuals reportedly taken to Belgorod have been unsuccessful.
Military Engagements
As of Tuesday evening, Lt-Col Trehubov reported ongoing engagements in the southern area of Hrabovske. Separately, Deep State, a Ukrainian battlefield monitoring website, later indicated that the village had been captured by Russian forces. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces had been engaged at Hrabovske and other villages within the Sumy region.
Related Developments in Donetsk
In the eastern Donetsk region, the Ukrainian military announced the withdrawal of troops from Siversk. This action was described as a measure to preserve the lives of soldiers. The capture of Siversk by Russian forces reportedly moves them closer to the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, located approximately 35 km (21 miles) to the west.