Russia captures 13 Ukrainian soldiers in Sumy direction – Zelenskyy

18:44, 22.12.2025 1 min read

Russian troops took 52 civilians, including children, from the village of Hrabovske in Sumy region, and also captured 13 Ukrainian Defense Forces soldiers, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, answering a question from an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent.

"Regarding Sumy, what happened? Our village is on the border with Russia. It is partly in Ukraine and partly in Russia. Fifty-two people remained there—Ukrainian citizens who did not evacuate. I am surprised that there were children there. I am simply shocked that parents would treat their children this way. The 52 people who lived there had some dialogue with border guards in the Russian Federation. I think they simply did not expect the Russian military to take them. Thirteen of our military personnel are also in captivity," Zelenskyy said during an event on the occasion of the Diplomatic Service Day in Kyiv on Monday.