As russian troops left Kyiv region, they took civilian hostages with them

Approximately 500 civilians were detained by the Russian army in basements and factory premises in the Kyiv region, according to locals. As the Russian military left these areas they appear to have taken some, if not all, the detainees with them. 

Human rights activist Tetyana Katrychenko spoke about this on Homadske Radio.

The Russian military began detaining men as soon as they entered the Kyiv region on Feb. 24 and 25. A few men were released, but the majority are still being held. 

“It’s our opinion that the Russian army needed a large number of detainees to work digging trenches. Relatives of the men who were released confirmed that the men were forced to dig trenches. They did not know where. They were taken away somewhere.

They also detained people whom they considered dangerous. Some mothers and grandmothers went to the administrative head of of the village, appointed by the Russian occupiers, only to be told that the hostages were being held for exchanges,” the activist explained.

The Defense Ministry said that the Ukrainian army had regained control over settlements in Kyiv and Chernihiv regions. Among them are Dymer and Kozarovichi, where civilian detention facilities were located.

Locals confirm that the Russians left these settlements. It’s suspected that the Russian troops have taken the civilians they were holding hostage, with them as they withdrew.

“The same as how the National Guard was taken away in the Chornobyl zone,» the human rights activist added.

The hostages are possibly being kept at a glass factory in Gostomel, although it is difficult to say for certain and verify due to the ongoing hostilities.  

One of the hostages who was released spoke to the Media Initiative for Human Rights telling them that people detained in the Kyiv region had their hands tied behind their backs and their eyes were covered with tape. 

“They only ate when the occupiers had some food. And they were given water from the heating system,” the hostage says. He detailed how many detainees were forced to dig trenches.

Most people were detained for taking photos of Russian equipment with their phones. But there were other reasons too. 

«An acquaintance had a contact with his brother in the United States, and he was detained for a week because they thought he was an American agent,» said Eugene, who lived in barricade Kozarovichi for over ten days.

According to Vitaliy Hekal, a lawyer with the Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group, taking civilian hostages is a violation of the laws and customs of war.

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