The Russian authorities are blocking the evacuation of civilians from the Belgorod region as Russian volunteer units break through the border. The Russian authorities are trying to use civilians as human shields to protect the Russian terrorist regime. This was reported by the representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Andriy Yusov during a telethon, UNN correspondent reports.
"The enemy is indeed placing military targets among civilian objects, so representatives of the RDC, the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Siberian Battalion have repeatedly called on local residents to evacuate and on the local so-called authorities to ensure the evacuation of local residents and civilians," Yusov said.
When asked whether the Russian authorities were indeed blocking the evacuation of civilians from the Belgorod region, Yusov replied: "We can confirm this information. Today, a number of intercepts have been made public throughout the day, both conversations between security forces and conversations between local residents, who state that transportation hubs are surrounded by security forces and there are checkpoints. There are threats of both sanctions and dismissal from work. The authorities are once again trying to use civilians, their own fellow citizens, as human shields to defend the Russian terrorist regime.
At the same time, he noted that there is information and evidence that the evacuation is still ongoing in at least several settlements, including Hayvoron on the border with Ukraine.
Addendum
The Volunteer Corps statedthat due to the limited military operation in the Kursk and Belgorod regions of the Russian Federation, they are providing a humanitarian corridor for civilians and the Russian military to leave the settlements in the border areas without hindrance.
Earlier, Yusov reportedthat active hostilities were taking place in the Kursk and Belgorod regions of the Russian Federation, which included the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) and the Siberian Battalion.