Kiev has repatriated 33 individuals from occupied parts of Kursk Region, according to Moscow’s human rights commissioner
Kiev has handed over 33 civilians from Ukrainian-controlled parts of Russia’s Kursk Region, Moscow’s human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova has announced. Most of the repatriated citizens are elderly, the official noted.
According to Moskalkova, who welcomed the individuals as they crossed into Belarus, the group includes four children between 1 and 10 years of age. Nine of the civilians need urgent medical assistance, including several wheelchair-bound individuals, the official revealed.
On Tuesday, the repatriated civilians are expected to arrive in the city of Kursk, where they will be reunited with their families and receive all the necessary medical aid.
The Russian human rights commissioner stated that the civilians had been handed over after discussions with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmitry Lubinets, and with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Moskalkova estimated that the number of Kursk Region residents who have been repatriated from Ukraine to date has reached 79.
Last October, the Russian official reported that she had received more than a thousand inquiries and requests to search for missing civilians in the Russian border region.
Ukraine launched its surprise offensive in early August 2024, capturing several towns and villages there. Explaining the rationale behind the move, officials in Kiev have said that they had hoped to divert Russian forces away from other parts of the front line. However, the gamble has apparently not paid off, as Moscow’s troops have steadily been advancing across Donbass in recent months regardless.
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has also repeatedly stated that he plans to use the Kiev-controlled parts of Kursk Region as a bargaining chip in any potential negotiations with Moscow. The Kremlin has, however, rejected any possibility of trading territories.
While the Ukrainian military continues to hold on to several areas close to the border, Russian forces are progressively squeezing them out of Kursk Region.
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