FM Sybiha: Russia no different from ISIS after abducting civilians in Sumy region

Sybiha made the statement on social media platform X, Ukrinform reports.

“Russian invaders have stolen five dozen civilian people, mostly elderly women, from a tiny Ukrainian village Hrabovske right across the state border in the Sumy region. With such medieval raids, Putin’s Russia shows it is no different from terrorist groups like ISIS, Boko Haram, or Hamas,” Sybiha wrote.

He added that Ukraine demands the return of its civilian hostages.

“These fifty people and thousands of other civilians forcibly deported to Russia, including Ukrainian children,” the minister stressed.

Sybiha also appealed to the international community.

“We urge all states and international organizations to join us in demanding the release of innocent civilian people stolen from their homes. This particular war crime is already being prosecuted in Ukraine and should receive an appropriate response at the international level as well. It also underscores the permanent threat of living next to Russia. That is why Ukraine needs a real, lasting peace. Living next to terrorists requires strength and robust security guarantees,” the foreign minister emphasized.

As reported by Ukrinform, following a rapid Russian offensive in Sumy region, Ukrainian forces withdrew from several positions near Hrabovske. Stabilization operations and measures to detect and eliminate enemy personnel are currently underway.

Ukraine’s Armed Forces Communications Directorate confirmed that after Russian troops seized Hrabovske, more than 50 civilians were forcibly taken to Russian territory. Most of them are elderly men and women who had previously refused evacuation deeper into Ukraine.