Russians Abduct Ukrainians from Hrabovske for Propaganda, Using Them as “Human Shields” – Trehubov

Russian forces have forcibly removed approximately 50 residents from the Ukrainian border village of Hrabovske in the Sumy region, according to Ukrainian military officials who characterize the action as a planned provocation rather than part of a larger military offensive.

Viktor Tregubov, head of communications for the Ukrainian Joint Forces Group, stated that the operation appears designed primarily to generate propaganda material for Russian media outlets rather than establish a meaningful military advance.

“This does not look like a prepared breakthrough, but rather a specific provocation, possibly for media purposes,” Tregubov said. “This does not look like any attempt to seriously develop an offensive and create additional pressure.”

The incident began during the night of December 20, when units of Russia’s 36th Brigade crossed into Hrabovske, which sits directly on the Ukraine-Russia border. While sporadic fighting continues in the area, Ukrainian officials report no evidence suggesting a full-scale operation or significant military pressure building in the sector.

According to Ukrainian authorities, Russian forces gathered local residents in the village church before forcibly transporting them across the border into Russian territory. Most of those abducted were elderly citizens who had previously declined official evacuation efforts by Ukrainian authorities.

The forcible removal of civilians represents a troubling development in Russia’s ongoing border operations. Military analysts note that such actions potentially violate international humanitarian law, which prohibits the forced displacement of civilian populations during armed conflicts.

The Sumy region has experienced periodic cross-border attacks since the early phases of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, though it has not seen the sustained ground offensives that have characterized fighting in eastern regions like Donetsk and Luhansk.

Tregubov emphasized that a persistent challenge for Ukrainian forces is the reluctance of some residents to evacuate from frontline settlements despite the clear dangers. This situation creates additional complications for Ukrainian military operations, as Russian forces effectively use these civilians as “human shields.”

“The occupiers deliberately abduct civilians to manipulate the situation on the battlefield and in the information space,” Tregubov said, suggesting that Russia uses these tactics to restrict Ukrainian defensive operations and create propagandistic narratives for domestic consumption.

The incident highlights Russia’s hybrid warfare approach, blending conventional military actions with information operations and the exploitation of civilian populations. Security experts note that such tactics have become increasingly common along the approximately 1,200-mile frontline.

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called for international monitoring organizations to increase their presence in border regions to document potential war crimes and human rights violations. The forced removal of civilians across international borders during conflict can constitute a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.

Regional authorities continue monitoring the situation and working to establish the welfare and whereabouts of the abducted civilians. International humanitarian organizations have expressed concern about the incident but face significant challenges accessing affected populations on Russian territory.

The Ukrainian government has established evacuation procedures for civilians in vulnerable border areas, but convincing all residents to leave remains difficult. Many elderly residents cite attachment to their homes, lack of resources for relocation, or disbelief in the severity of the threat as reasons for refusing evacuation.

As winter conditions intensify across the region, humanitarian concerns for displaced persons and those remaining in contested areas continue to mount, with access to heating, electricity, and basic supplies becoming increasingly critical.