Ukraine ombudsman says Russian forces deported 25 civilians from occupied Kharkiv Oblast
Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, said Russian forces forcibly moved 25 civilians, including children and elderly people, from occupied territory in Kharkiv Oblast. Their destination and detention conditions are unknown, and Lubinets rejected Russia's characterization of the operation as an evacuation. He appealed to Russian officials and international organizations for information and assistance in securing the civilians' return.
Lubinets reported on Oct. 9 that 25 residents—children, younger adults, and elderly people—were moved against their will from Russian-held parts of Kharkiv Oblast. The area remains contested, and no destination or detention details have been disclosed. He disputed Moscow’s label of evacuation, describing the operation as coercive. The circumstances could not be independently confirmed.
Russian channels allegedly shared video of the transfer as a rescue, but Lubinets said it indicated pressure and intimidation. He also warned that a Telegram bot supposedly for evacuation may gather personal data, endangering civilians and relatives. He asked Russian officials and international bodies, including the ICRC and UN, for information and return efforts. The Fourth Geneva Convention bars such forced transfers.
The reported removals may deepen fear among residents in occupied or contested Kharkiv Oblast and their relatives, who could face uncertainty about safety, communication, and reunification. If confirmed, such cases may intensify public calls for international monitoring and family tracing, while also complicating trust in evacuation messaging. The wider societal effect could include greater scrutiny of how civilian transfers are documented and reported, though the immediate consequences for the 25 individuals remain unclear.