Archive · 23 Dec 2025
Zelenskiy confirms Russian troops took border residents
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Russian soldiers took away 52 people and 13 Ukrainian soldiers from a village near the border.
These people had lived there for many years and had been talking to their neighbours on the Russian side.
Zelenskiy said they didn't expect the Russian soldiers to come and take them away.
He also said that Ukrainian soldiers could have fought back but didn't because there were civilians there.
Russian forces have been taking control of some villages in the area and have been shooting at many places.
The leaders in the area are now trying to move people out of the border villages to keep them safe.
Russian troops took 52 residents and 13 Ukrainian servicemen from Hrabovske village in Sumy region.
Zelenskiy confirmed the residents had interacted with Russian neighbours for years without incident.
Ukrainian forces could have fought back but refrained to avoid harming civilians.
Russian forces have gained control of several villages in Sumy region and frequently shell the area.
Authorities have begun evacuating residents of border villages who had previously refused to leave.
- Who
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian troops
- What
- Russian troops took 52 residents and 13 Ukrainian servicemen from a border village
- When
- Recently, with specific comments made on Monday, December 22
- Where
- Hrabovske village in Sumy region, Ukraine
- Why
- Zelenskiy stated that the residents had interacted with Russian neighbours for years, but Russian troops took them away as prisoners
- Location
- Hrabovske village, Sumy region, Ukraine
- Number of residents taken
- 52
- Ukrainian servicemen taken
- 13
- Russian forces' actions
- Gained foothold in Sumy region, seized villages, frequent shelling
- Evacuation status
- Authorities began evacuating border villages