PGO identifies two more Russian military who held civilians as hostages in Chernihiv region

KYIV. Jan 27 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Prosecutors of Chernihiv region notified of suspicion two Russian servicemen who held 368 civilians as hostages in the village of Yahidne in Chernihiv region during the occupation, the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) has said.

"Under the procedural guidance of Chernihiv Region Prosecutor’s Office, two Russian servicemen have been notified of suspicion in absentia for the violation of the laws and customs of the warfare (Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)," it said on the Telegram channel on Friday.

According to the investigation, during the occupation of Yahidne in Chernihiv district, the suspects, who served in military unit No. 55115 in Kyzyl, the Republic of Tyva of the Russian Federation, threatened with shooting, forced people from their own houses and forced them to stay in the basement of a local school.

"On March 3 through 31, 2022, the occupiers held civilians in the basement of Yahidne branch of Kolychivka secondary school in Ivanivka Village Council of Chernihiv district. Some 368 victims, including 69 children, spent almost a month in the premises 197 square meters in area. The youngest child was one month and a half old and the oldest hostage was 93," the PGO said.

In fact, the people were forced to stay in the basement as "a live shield" since the occupiers used the school building as their "headquarters", it said.

"Ten senior people died in the inhuman conditions of detention – the lack of enough space, proper sanitary conditions, access to fresh air, food, and water," the PGO said.

The pre-trial investigation is conducted by the Department of the Security Service of Ukraine in Chernihiv region.