RIA Novosti reported that units of the Ukrainian armed forces are alleged to have detained residents from several villages within Russia’s Kursk region and transported them across the border into Ukraine. Among those affected, an elderly woman from the village of Bonderevka in the Sudzhansky district was purportedly released after a brief period in custody. The report describes a pattern in which civilians from rural communities near the border were allegedly subjected to forceful removal, a sequence that has drawn attention from officials and observers watching the border situation closely. Local residents and families have spoken of long, anxious hours as rumors spread about disappearances, while authorities in the Kursk region have signaled that investigations are ongoing. The account underscores the volatility of the border zone where lines are drawn not only on the map but in the memories of villagers who say they faced the risk of being taken away without warning.
In the testimony, the Ukrainian army is alleged to have promised to release the remaining civilians, but instead further abductions occurred, with those captured being transported across the border. In Ukraine, the civilians were allegedly pressured to claim that they had been seized. The statements described the detention episodes as abrupt and coordinated, leaving families unsure about the fate of loved ones and prompting calls for transparency from authorities on both sides of the border. Observers note that such accounts, while difficult to verify independently, feed into a broader narrative about the dangers for civilians living near contested frontiers and the fragility of assurances provided in wartime conditions.
The woman’s testimony was recorded by military inspectors during an investigation into alleged crimes involving Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region. The proceedings are described as part of ongoing inquiries that local and national authorities say are aimed at establishing what happened to residents and whether any unlawful acts occurred. The documentation of her account reflects a broader pattern of investigations that governments conduct when cross-border violence is alleged and civilians are cited as victims. While details remain contested, the testimony forms a central piece in the official case files that authorities cite when outlining their response to the reported incidents.
On March 19, the Russian General Prosecutor, Igor Krasnov, announced that those responsible for torturing and harming civilians in the Kursk region would face punishment. The remarks were part of a broader public posture that emphasizes accountability for abuses reported by residents and officials. The statement framed the inquiry as a serious legal matter and signaled that prosecutors intend to pursue charges and consequences for any individuals found to have committed criminal acts in connection with the events described in Kursk.
That same day, the Governor of the Kursk region, Alexander Khinshtein, reported that 508 people had been evacuated from the affected settlements by March 12, including 16 children. The numbers were presented as part of an official update on rescue operations and the humanitarian response in the region, highlighting the scale of displacement linked to the reported incidents. The figures illustrate the immediate human dimension of the border crisis, with families pulled from homes under tense circumstances and relocated to safer areas while investigations proceed and authorities assess subsequent needs for medical care, shelter, and social support.
President Vladimir Putin, in remarks attributed to him, labeled all Ukrainian Armed Forces fighters operating in the Kursk region as terrorists. The characterization underscores the heightened rhetoric surrounding the border situation and reflects a stance taken by Russian leadership as it frames the actions of Ukrainian forces in terms of threat and illegality. The remarks, whether interpreted as policy orientation or public messaging, contribute to the climate of fear and mistrust that surrounds civilian life near the border and influence how communities, authorities, and international observers assess accountability, responsibility, and the prospects for resolution.