Russians abduct locals, steal gravestones in Luhansk Oblast – Ukrainian authorities
A portrait of Putin on the wall at the "volunteer headquarters" in occupied Toshkivka, Luhansk Oblast, March 24, 2023 (Photo:REUTERS / Alexander Ermochenko)
Russian occupiers continue to abduct Ukrainian citizens whom they suspect of supporting the Ukrainian army, Luhansk Oblast's military administration said on Telegram on April 10.
The administration highlighted the plight of Ukrainians trapped in the occupied town of Starobilsk, where there have been reports of people being kidnapped by the occupying authorities for suspected support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The victims were not returned following their abduction.
Looting by Russian soldiers is still ongoing as well, the administration reported, noting that Russian forces dismantled a water heating station for a kindergarten in the village of Chmyrivka, and stolen the equipment.
"But their cynicism is beyond all limits in Popasna District: The occupiers are stealing gravestones there, taking them to (the nearby occupied town of) Kadiivka to overwrite the inscriptions," the administration said.
Reportedly, the gravestones are being engraved with the names of dead Russian soldiers – it is three times cheaper to reuse an existing gravestone than order a new one, the administration explained.
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