Ukraine Demands Return of 25 Civilians Forcibly Taken from Kharkiv Region by Russian Forces

Forced Removal of Civilians from Kharkiv Region

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: Russian occupying forces have forcibly relocated 25 civilians from the temporarily occupied areas of Kharkiv region to an unknown destination. This was reported by Dmitry Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament’s Human Rights Commissioner, via Telegram. Among those taken are children, young adults, and elderly people, whose families remain unaware of their whereabouts or living conditions.

Lubinets has called on Russian authorities to disclose the location and status of the abducted civilians and provide full details about them. He demanded immediate measures for their safe return to Ukraine. Additionally, he appealed to international bodies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations to intervene.

Violations of International Humanitarian Law

According to Lubinets, the forced displacement of civilians by occupying forces contravenes international humanitarian law. The Geneva Convention protecting civilians during wartime explicitly prohibits:

• forcible transfer and deportation from occupied territories (Article 49);
• taking hostages (Article 34);
• intimidation, terror tactics, and collective punishment (Article 33).

Lubinets also warned about a Telegram bot launched by Russian occupiers that collects personal data under the guise of "evacuation."

“I urge people not to share passport numbers, addresses, phone numbers, or any documents-whether their own or their children’s-through this bot,”

he stated. While Russian forces refer to this process as "evacuation," Lubinets stressed that forcibly removing people against their will with threats and no choice cannot be considered rescue but rather coercion.

For context, in December 2025, the 34th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian military forcibly took over 50 civilians from Grabovske in Sumy region, despite their earlier refusal to evacuate. Approximately 50 people were unlawfully detained; since then, 18 have been returned-one emigrated to the EU, and 17 were brought back to Ukraine. In March 2026, residents of the border village Sopich in Sumy, numbering around 300, were also forcibly relocated to Russia. By May 2025, four individuals from Sumy, who had been abducted by Russian forces in 2025, were returned to Ukraine.

These events highlight the ongoing and deeply concerning issue of civilian abductions amid the conflict, raising alarms among Ukrainian and international human rights advocates.

This case is part of a broader pattern of human rights abuses during the war. Forced displacement of civilians not only breaks international laws but also leaves families in anguish over the fate of their loved ones. Calls to the global community and international organizations remain crucial for securing the safe return of those taken and ensuring their protection.