Russian military forces have attempted a significant breakthrough in Ukraine's northern Sumy region, while simultaneously abducting around 50 civilians from a border village in an act condemned as a war crime.
Civilian Abductions and Cross-Border Fighting
According to Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, Russian troops illegally detained the mostly elderly residents of the village of Hrabovske on Thursday, 18 December. The captives were then forcibly moved into Russian territory on Saturday, 20 December.
In a statement on Telegram, Lubinets confirmed he has contacted Russia's human rights commissioner, demanding information on the civilians' whereabouts and their immediate return to Ukraine. The forcible transfer of protected civilians is considered both a war crime and a crime against humanity under international law.
Ukraine's joint taskforce reported that fighting was ongoing in the village on Sunday, 21 December, with efforts underway to drive the invading forces back across the border.
A Deliberate 'Cognitive Warfare' Campaign
The assault in Sumy is part of a broader Russian strategy, according to analysts at the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW). In an assessment published on Sunday night, the think-tank stated that Russian forces are conducting limited cross-border attacks across previously quiet parts of the northern frontline in both Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts.
The ISW argues this constitutes a new 'cognitive warfare campaign'. The Kremlin's objective is to create an artificial impression of widespread gains and collapsing Ukrainian lines, aiming to convince Western allies that Kyiv must concede to all of Moscow's demands.
"ISW continues to assess that the frontlines in Ukraine are not in danger of rapid collapse and that a Russian victory is not inevitable," the institute firmly stated.
Evacuations and Escalating Threats
In response to the heightened threat, Oleh Hryhorov, head of the Sumy regional military administration, announced that officials have begun evacuating residents from border villages who had previously refused to leave. He urged all remaining civilians in vulnerable areas to agree to evacuation for their own safety.
While the fighting in eastern Ukraine remains the most intense, Russia has sought a foothold in several Sumy region villages in recent months. Towns in the area have also endured increased artillery shelling, making life increasingly perilous for those who remain.
The ISW confirmed that, despite continued offensive operations in Sumy on Saturday, Russian forces made no confirmed territorial gains. This supports their assessment that the latest attacks are more about shaping perceptions than achieving decisive military breakthroughs.
