Russians Used Civilians as Cover During Retreat Through Gas Pipeline in Kupiansk Region

Russian servicemen led civilians from the Kupiansk community through the Shebelynka–Ostrohozk gas pipeline.

The Khartiia 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine reported this.

On September 27, the corps’ reconnaissance UAVs spotted a group of people being led by Russian servicemen from the Kupiansk area through the village of Holubivka toward the gas pipeline.

The released footage shows nine civilians, including children, elderly people, and one person using crutches.

Men of military age in civilian clothes moved alongside them. Khartiia suggests that some of them may have been Russian servicemen who removed their uniforms and attempted to leave the combat zone using civilians as cover.

Ukrainian servicemen monitored the group using UAVs but did not open fire due to the presence of civilians.

According to the corps, the group was led to the Shebelynka–Ostrohozk main gas pipeline and then taken inside the pipe. To reach the other side of the route, the civilians will have to travel more than 10 kilometers through the pipeline.

The pipeline exit is in a wooded area, from which people could potentially be taken to occupied territory, according to Khartiia.

Ukrainian servicemen also recorded Russian personnel escorting the group and filming its movement.

The corps suggests that the footage could be used by Russian propaganda as evidence of an alleged “evacuation” or “rescue” of civilians.

Under international law, each of these actions by the occupiers constitutes a crime:

• Forcible transfer of civilians. Invading forces are prohibited from transferring civilians from their territory (Article 49 of the Geneva Convention(IV)). The Rome Statute recognizes this as a war crime. In 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over the deportation of Ukrainian children.
• Human shields. Using civilians as shields to protect oneself or one’s units from attacks is prohibited (Article 28 of the Geneva Convention (IV), Article 51 of Additional Protocol I).
• Military personnel in civilian clothing. The laws of war require combatants to distinguish themselves from the civilian population. Russian servicemen hiding among civilians deliberately put them at risk of becoming targets.

The drone footage is to be submitted for the investigation of Russian war crimes.

Russian forces have also used gas pipelines to move near Kupiansk, Avdiivka, and Sudzha.