Russian troops evacuated civilians, including children and the elderly, from the Kupiansk community via a gas pipeline to cover the withdrawal of their forces.

Russian troops evacuated civilians from the Kupiansk community in the Kharkiv region via a gas pipeline, presumably using children and the elderly as cover for their forces’ withdrawal.

The 2nd Corps of the Ukrainian National Guard 'Charter' reported that on September 27, reconnaissance drones captured footage of Russian troops leading civilians out of the Kupiansk community.

The corps said its reconnaissance drones recorded the group on Sunday, Sept. 27. Nine people, including children, older residents, and one person using crutches can be seen in the footage.

Khartiia said the group was taken from Kupiansk through the village of Holubivka to the Shebelinka-Ostrogozhsk pipeline and led inside.

Russian military are using civilians as cover during their retreat from the Kupiansk hromada, moving through a gas pipeline area with children and elderly people.

On September 27, reconnaissance drones recorded a group of nine civilians, including children, elderly people, and a person on crutches, being moved out of the area by Russian forces.

On 27 September, reconnaissance drones from the Khartiia corps recorded Russian occupiers removing civilians from the Kupiansk community in the Kharkiv region.

The video shows nine people: children, elderly people and one person on crutches, being led into the Shebelynka–Ostrohozk gas pipeline.

Russian soldiers in civilian clothing were observed walking alongside the civilians, using them as cover for their retreat.

Ukrainian soldiers spotted the group but did not open fire because there were civilians present.

The incident involves the forced deportation of civilians, using them as human shields, and Russian military personnel wearing civilian clothing.

The materials will be forwarded for investigation into war crimes.