Civilians captured, first executions reported: Russian troops do not allow Vovchansk residents to evacuate

This was reported by the Ukrainian Interior Minister, Ihor Klymenko.

"In the northern part of Vovchansk, where active hostilities are taking place, Russian troops are taking civilians prisoner," he said in a statement.

According to the minister, the evacuation in that area continued until May 16, with the National Police evacuating people despite all the threats and shelling. As of 12:30 p.m., the Russian military did not allow local residents to evacuate, they kidnapped people and drove them to basements. 

"We know about the first executions of civilians by the Russian military. In particular, one of the residents of Vovchansk tried to escape on foot, refused to follow the commands of the invaders - the Russians killed him," added Klymenko.

He noted that investigators of the National Police in the Kharkiv region have opened criminal proceedings on the facts of violation of the rules and customs of war. 

• The Russian occupation army has advanced no more than 8 kilometers from the border since the beginning of the intensified offensive in the Kharkiv region.
• Russian troops continue to attack along almost the entire front line. They focus their main efforts on the Pokrovsk and Kupyansk directions.
• Roman Vlasenko, head of the Sieverodonetsk district military administration, noted that the intensity of Russian military operations in the Luhansk region has decreased.
• Kharkiv regional council deputy Oleksandr Skoryk noted that over the past day, Russians have neither advanced nor gained any ground in the Kharkiv region.