Russian forces crossed Ukraine’s state border near the village of Grabovske in Sumy Oblast and forcibly removed more than 50 civilians to Russian territory, Ukrainian military officials said Sunday. Ukrainian Defense Forces have since withdrawn from several positions in the area as stabilization operations continue.
The information was confirmed by Dmytro Lykhovii, an officer with the Armed Forces of Ukraine Main Directorate of Communications, in comments to Ukrainska Pravda. Altitude Post reached out to Russia’s Defense Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The reported abduction of civilians raises concerns about potential violations of international humanitarian law as fighting intensifies along Ukraine’s northeastern border. Forced deportations from occupied or contested areas are prohibited under the Geneva Conventions and have been a recurring allegation in the nearly three-year war.
The developments also highlight growing instability in Sumy Oblast, a region that had seen relatively limited frontline activity compared with eastern and southern Ukraine.
What To Know
Ukrainian officials say Russian troops entered Grabovske overnight on Dec. 20 and removed more than 50 residents, most of them elderly men and women, taking them into Russia. Lykhovii told Ukrainska Pravda that the oldest civilian taken was 89 years old and that nearly all of those removed had previously refused evacuation deeper into Ukrainian-controlled territory.
Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies have opened an investigation into the incident, which the Armed Forces classify as a violation of the Geneva Conventions. Military authorities again urged residents of border communities to evacuate, citing ongoing security risks.
Regional officials say more than 30,000 people have already been evacuated from Sumy Oblast. According to Lykhovii, nearly 5,700 residents—including 38 children—have refused to leave.
Local outlet Kordon Media reported that the civilians were taken to Russian territory for so-called “filtration” procedures. The outlet, citing its own sources, also said Russian units continued moving toward the Vysokyi hamlet and the village of Riasne.
An explicit caveat: Ukrainian authorities and media reports have not independently verified the conditions of the civilians after their removal or provided documentation confirming their current location. Russian officials have not publicly acknowledged the incident.
An explicit caveat: Ukrainian authorities and media reports have not provided independent documentation confirming the civilians’ current location or the circumstances of their removal. Russian officials have not publicly acknowledged the incident.
What People Are Saying
Dmytro Lykhovii, officer, Armed Forces of Ukraine, told Ukrainska Pravda: “Those taken were mostly elderly people who had previously refused evacuation. The oldest was 89 years old.”
Liudmyla Kremezna, head of Grabovske village, said earlier that Russian troops entered the settlement overnight on Dec. 20 and removed around 50 civilians, according to Ukrainian media reporting.
Ruslan Mykula, co-founder of the analytical project DeepState, told Suspilne that increased Russian military activity has been recorded in the Grabovske area.
The Institute for the Study of War reported that Russian forces continued offensive operations in northern Sumy Oblast on Dec. 20 but achieved no confirmed advances, despite claims by Russia’s Defense Ministry and pro-Kremlin military bloggers that Vysoke and Grabovske had been captured.
What Happens Next
Ukrainian stabilization operations are ongoing in parts of Sumy Oblast as authorities continue evacuation efforts. Investigators are expected to pursue the forced deportation case while monitoring Russian troop movements along the border, with further updates likely from Ukraine’s military and regional officials.
