Kupiansk

Russian forces are accused of using civilians as human shields during their retreat near Kupiansk in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, in what is being described as another potential war crime. The report has been shared widely, with calls for the International Criminal Court and international media in Brussels to pay attention to the alleged violation.

Russian forces on September 27 moved civilians out of the Kupiansk community in Ukraine's Kharkiv region through a gas pipeline, according to Ukrainian officials. Reports say children and elderly people were allegedly used as cover while Russian troops withdrew from their positions. The episode has drawn attention as the situation in the Kupiansk district remains intense.

Reports say Russian military units have been identified as allegedly involved in a humanitarian crisis in Oleshky, in Russian-occupied Kherson region. Related coverage describes Russian troops using civilians as human shields to escape through the Kupiansk pipeline, while Kyiv residents describe constant drone attacks as part of normal daily work life. The claims are attributed to Ukrainian war reporting and remain allegations.