Russians abduct relatives of Ukrainian servicemen within occupied areas – intelligence

Russian invaders are abducting relatives of Ukrainian servicemen to further blackmail them.

The relevant statement was made by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“The cases of abducting relatives of Ukrainian servicemen within the temporarily occupied areas are becoming systemic. Unfortunately, rashists gain access to the databases of Ukrainian citizens when seizing administrative buildings or with the help of collaborators,” the report states.

According to the intelligence, such cases were recorded mostly within the temporarily occupied areas of Zaporizhzhia Region, Kherson Region and Mykolaiv Region. The Russian military are abducting both adults, namely women and the elderly, and children.

In particular, several children of another Ukrainian serviceman have been taken hostage recently.

After a while, Russians may contact servicemen and request that they go to the occupied areas to ensure the safety of their relatives.

“Each of such cases is evidence of the most terrible war crimes committed by the occupiers on our land. All of them will be properly investigated. Those guilty of such crimes will be brought to justice,” the intelligence stressed.

For safety reasons, the personal data of Ukrainian servicemen and their relatives, who suffered from such crimes, cannot be disclosed.

A reminder that, according to the National Police of Ukraine, 20,000 people have gone missing in Ukraine since the Russian invasion started. Law enforcement officers managed to find about half of them.

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