Russian forces kidnap conscription-age men en masse in territories under their temporary control for use in prisoner exchanges - Ukrainian intelligence

"The occupation force’s victims are most often men of military age. Primarily - ATO / OOS veterans, former military and law enforcement officers, pro-Ukrainian activists. It is known that more than 300 pro-Ukrainian activists and ATO / OOS veterans are being interrogated in Kherson detention center ", the statement says.

A filtration camp has been set up in Velyka Lepetykha village in Kherson region. About 400 Russian servicemen in Rosguard uniforms arrived there recently, searching for and detaining conscripts. Once detained, Ukrainian men are taken en masse to occupied Crimea. The main goal is to "replenish the prisoner exchange fund" irrespective of whether the Ukrainians detained have been active in the conflict or not," the Defense Ministry says.

Detained Ukrainians might also be used in “victory parades” for domestic propaganda use in Russia. They may be described as "prisoners of war" and paraded through the streets of occupied cities. Similar events took place in Donetsk in 2014. At that time, Ukrainian heroes were forced to walk through the central street of Donetsk, where they were subjected to bullying and humiliation. "Another war crime. The organizers will face the inevitable punishment," the statement said.