Fifty residents of the village of Grabovskoye in Ukraine's Sumy region were forcibly taken out of the country by Russian military forces. This was stated in an official announcement on Sunday by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.
The Grabovskoye Tragedy: Forced Deportation
According to reports, the events began on December 18. Russian armed forces took control of the remaining population in Grabovskoye, a village bordering Russia's Belgorod region, deprived them of communication tools, and held them under inhumane conditions.
- Who was taken: Initial reports indicate that the hostages include a significant number of elderly women and civilian men.
- Timeline: On December 20, these 50 individuals were forcibly deported to Russian territory.
Blatant Violation of International Law
Ukraine has classified this incident as a war crime. Andriy Sybiha called on international organizations to support Ukraine's demand for the return of "innocent civilians abducted from their homes."
"We demand the immediate return of our citizens — the hostages among the civilian population — as well as the thousands of other Ukrainians, including children, who have been forcibly deported to Russia," the minister wrote in his statement.
Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has issued an official appeal to the Russian human rights commissioner and the International Committee of the Red Cross. He is seeking information about the location and conditions of those deported, as well as their health status.
The Situation and Outlook
Before the war, approximately 700 people lived in the village of Grabovskoye. Currently, the village remains directly affected by military actions and is under significant threat. Ukrainian authorities have opened a criminal case and initiated investigative procedures regarding this incident.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has yet to provide any official comments about the situation concerning the residents of Grabovskoye. Experts argue that such actions are in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions and the norms of international humanitarian law.
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