Russian troops abduct residents of village in northeastern Ukraine — Media
Russian troops abducted and took residents of another village in Sumy region (photo: Getty Images)
Russian forces abducted and took to Russia residents of the border village Sopich in the Esman community of Sumy region, Ukraine, the Kordon.Media reports.
It concerns about 19 residents who refused evacuation and remained in the border village.
Interviews with them were shown on the Russian propaganda channel Vesti.
Report states that Russian military took people to settlement somewhere in Bryansk region, where all of them are now staying.
Photo: Screenshots from propaganda report
Photo: Screenshots from propaganda report
Photo: Screenshots from propaganda report
Photo: Screenshots from propaganda report
That the people shown in the video are indeed residents of Sopich was confirmed to Kordon.Media by its own sources. Head of the Esman community, Serhii Minakov, had also previously reported that contact with them had been lost.
In recent years, Sopich had about 300 residents, but they gradually left the border village. However, 19 civilians, despite all risks, remained and signed statements refusing evacuation.
At the same time in Sopich, as well as in neighboring villages of the same community — Komarivka, Bobilivka, Kharkivka, Sydorivka — Russians have not stopped attempts to infiltrate since December last year.
Abduction of residents of Hrabovske
In December last year, Russian troops crossed Ukraine border near the village of Hrabovske in the Sumy region.
They abducted residents and took them to Russian territory. It concerns about 50 civilians who had earlier refused evacuation deeper into Ukraine.
According to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian forces then managed to gain a foothold in Hrabovske.
Earlier, it was also reported that Russians are "probing" the border and searching for weak points in Ukrainian defense.
