Russians use civilians as a "human shield" in Pokrovsk

During the fighting in Pokrovsk, Russian occupiers used civilians as "human shields." While clearing a residential area, Russian soldiers forcibly made a man, a woman, and a 13-year-old child walk in front of them.

The report was issued by the Office of the Prosecutor General on Tuesday, November 18.

Russian soldiers hid behind civilians during fighting in Pokrovsk

The pre-trial investigation into the war crime is ongoing under the supervision of the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office. According to the investigation, on November 10, the commander of a Russian military unit ordered his subordinates to use civilians as human shields while cleaning up the city. Three people — a man, a woman, and a 13-year-old child — got caught in the crossfire.

Around 2:30 p.m., the commander, in contact with his troops entering Pokrovsk, instructed them to shield themselves using civilians — effectively turning them into "human shields."

"During the so-called "clearing" of the residential sector, they had to lead a detained man, a woman, and a 13-year-old child in front of them, putting civilians in mortal danger," the Prosecutor General's Office said.

Authorities are currently conducting investigative actions to establish all circumstances of the incident and identify the responsible Russian military personnel. The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the Main Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

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