Ukrainian authorities have accused the Russian military of capturing and executing civilians in the city of Volchansk, located in the Kharkiv region.
Igor Klimenko, Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, stated on Telegram that Russian forces have begun targeting civilians following their recent incursion into the northern part of the city.
This development was also covered by Novaya Gazeta, an independent Russian newspaper.
Until May 16, evacuation efforts were ongoing in Volchansk. With the arrival of Russian troops, these efforts have been forcibly halted.
According to Klimenko, civilians are now being detained and confined to basements, with those attempting to escape facing lethal consequences. He recounted an incident where a resident was killed after refusing to follow Russian orders and attempting to flee.
Volunteers Targeted in Recent Attacks
Aleksey Paziy, coordinator of the evacuation team and director of the UADOPOMOGA charitable foundation, provided further details on the violence. He reported that after occupying the northern part of Volchansk, Russian forces shot a group of volunteers.
"One crew was shot, the second crew went missing. The same goes for civilians who were trapped due to constant shelling," Paziy said.
A Russian strike on a village in the Volchansk community resulted in injuries to several people, including Tamaz Gambarashvili, the head of the Volchansk administration. Four others, including two doctors and two drivers, were also wounded in the attack.
New Offensive in Kharkiv Region
Since May 10, Russian forces have been advancing on a new front in the Kharkiv region, managing to penetrate several kilometers inland.
On May 15, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced the strategic withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the settlements of Lukyantsy and Volchansk to avoid losses and preserve personnel.
The Ukrainian military has since repositioned to more defensible locations to impede further Russian advancement.
Volchansk, situated just five kilometers from the Russian border, has become a focal point of the conflict.
