Russian military detains civilians of Vovchansk community in basements

This was reported by the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

"According to the investigation, during the Russian army's offensive in the Vovchansk community, the occupiers have forcibly detained and continue to detain people in a basement. Local residents were placed in the room on 11 May 2024," the statement said.

Some community members managed to escape and get to the volunteers. According to them, while in the basement, they heard Russians talking about how civilians should be shot. At the same time, Russian soldiers forced the population to provide medical assistance to the Russian military.

The prosecutor's office has launched a pre-trial investigation into the capture of civilians.

"These actions by representatives of the aggressor state are a direct violation of the Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, signed in Geneva on 12 August 1949, to which Ukraine and Russia are parties," the statement said.

• On May 13, Kharkiv Regional Council deputy Oleksandr Skoryk said that very difficult positional battles were taking place for Vovchansk, and that Russian troops were making progress.
• On the same day, it was reported that 200-300 residents remained in Vovchansk, while a total of 1,600 civilians were scheduled to be evacuated from the Kharkiv region.