UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Sep. 28 — On Sep. 27, reconnaissance drones of the Ukrainian 2nd Corps Khartiia recorded Russian troops bringing civilians out of the Kupiansk community with a gas pipeline in the Kharkiv oblast, the press service of the Corps said.

Ukrainian forces are conducting offensive operations in that area, and the Russians are retreating, using the civilians as a cover, the press service said.

Footage from reconnaissance drones shows children, elderly people, and a man on crutches. Walking alongside them are men of military age wearing civilian clothing. Khartiia believes they may be Russian soldiers who removed their uniforms and are moving about under the cover of civilians.

According to the Corps, the Russians brought people from Kupiansk through Holubivka village to the gas pipeline running from Shebelynka to Ostrogozk in Russia.

The Russians used the gas pipeline to bring their assault troops into the city. Now they’re using this pipeline to transport civilians into Russian territory. Children and the elderly will have to walk more than 10 kilometers through it.

“Ukrainian troops spotted the group but did not open fire because there were civilians among them. That’s exactly what the Russians were counting on,” the Corps said.

The Russians filmed civilians the entire way, so Khartiia believes that reports about the “evacuation and rescue of civilians” may soon appear in the Russian media, even though intelligence footage shows that the people were being transported there under guard.

Khartiia added that by doing so, the Russians violated several international laws, including the forcible deportation of civilians, the use of civilians as human shields, and the wearing of civilian clothing by military personnel. The Corps has documented these violations and will submit the evidence for investigation.

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