--- title: "Russian troops used civilians as human shields near Kupiansk" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/russian-troops-used-civilians-as-human-shields-near-kupiansk" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/russian-troops-used-civilians-as-human-shields-near-kupiansk" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/russian-troops-used-civilians-as-human-shields-near-kupiansk.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/russian-troops-used-civilians-as-human-shields-near-kupiansk" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "Ukraine" published: "2026-09-28T17:25:11.715Z" source_reported: "2026-09-28T16:38:56.000Z" updated: "2026-09-28T17:25:11.715Z" trust_score: 50 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-28T18:30:37.073921+00:00" --- # Russian troops used civilians as human shields near Kupiansk *Drone footage shows nine civilians, including children and the elderly, forced into a gas pipeline during a Russian retreat.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 50 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named body, with video evidence provided by one outlet. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is clear, but lacks quotes from affected parties or opposing views. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. Headline promises more than the body delivers, with some loaded adjectives used. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Russian troops kidnapped nine Ukrainian civilians, including children and the elderly, to use as human shields during their retreat near Kupiansk. - The civilians were forced to travel through a gas pipeline approximately 10 kilometers long. - Ukrainian forces detected the group but did not fire to avoid harming the civilians. - Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that these actions constitute war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law. Russian troops kidnapped nine Ukrainian civilians, including children and the elderly, to use as human shields during their retreat near Kupiansk. The civilians were forced to travel through a gas pipeline approximately 10 kilometers long. Ukrainian forces detected the group but did not fire to avoid harming the civilians. The Ukrainian Khartiia Corps released drone footage documenting the incident. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that these actions constitute war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law. ## Disagreement on details of the incident Digi 24 reported that the Russian soldiers were disguised in civilian clothes and that one of them appeared to be filming the civilians with a mobile phone. The outlet also suggested that the Russians might present the action as a humanitarian evacuation. Kyiv Post stated that the identities of the men accompanying the civilians could not be confirmed from the footage alone, though the corps suspected they were Russian soldiers who had removed their uniforms. The same outlet noted that Russian forces had previously used the pipeline to move troops toward the city. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the specific date of September 27 for the incident. The right-rated digest does not mention Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha's statement that the actions constitute war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law. ## Who covered it Shares of the 8 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 63% (5) - Centre: 24% (2) - Right: 13% (1) 15 of 23 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-28T18:30:37.073921+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-28T18:45:15.689Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports led on the use of civilians, including children and the elderly, as human shields by Russian troops during their retreat. They highlighted that Ukrainian forces detected the group but refrained from firing to protect the civilians. The reports also noted the release of drone footage by the Khartiia Corps and stated that Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the actions as war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law. United24 specifically mentioned the gas pipeline was six miles long. ### Centre - Digi 24, rated centre, led with the declaration by Kyiv that a Russian sabotage group used Ukrainian civilians as a human shield during their retreat. The report detailed that nine civilians, including children and the elderly, were kidnapped on September 27 near Kupiansk and forced into a gas pipeline. It also mentioned the release of drone footage by the Khartiia Corps and quoted Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha calling the actions war crimes. ### Right - Korrespondent.net, rated right, reported that occupying forces covered for civilians while retreating from Kharkiv region. The report noted that drones recorded nine civilians, including children and the elderly, as well as men of recruitment age in civilian clothes, who may be Russian military personnel, according to the National Guard of Ukraine. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 7 - unknown: 15 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [UNN](https://unn.ua/news/tsyvilne-naselennia-ne-mozhe-vykorystovuvatysia-yak-instrument-viiny-sybiha-pro-vykradennia-tsyvilnykh-na-kupianshchyni) — Civilians Cannot Be Used as a Tool of War - Sibiga on the Abduction of Civilians in Kupyansk Region - [Noticias ao Minuto](https://noticiasaominuto.com/mundo/3058549/ucrania-kiev-denuncia-rapto-de-nove-civis-por-grupo-de-sabotagem-russo-em-kupiansk) — Kyiv Reports Abduction of 9 Civilians by Russian Sabotage Group in Kupiansk - [15min.lt](https://15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/pasaulis/rusai-isbande-nauja-taktika-is-vamzdzio-netiketai-islindo-visai-ne-tie-57-2773190) — The Russians Tried a New Tactic: the Wrong People Unexpectedly Emerged From the Pipe - [Digi 24](https://digi24.ro/stiri/externe/kievul-declara-ca-un-grup-rusesc-de-sabotaj-a-folosit-in-timpul-retragerii-civili-ucraineni-drept-scut-uman-3968263) — Kiev Declares that a Russian Sabotage Group Used Ukrainian Civilians as a Human Shield During the Retreat - [Adevarul](https://adevarul.ro/stiri-externe/europa/imagini-cutremuratoare-un-grup-rusesc-de-sabotaj-2560379.html) — Shocking Images. A Russian Sabotage Group Uses Ukrainian Civilians as Human Shield - [LB.ua](https://en.lb.ua/news/2026/09/28/43412_sybiha_russians_used_civilians.html) — Sybiha: Russians Used Civilians as a Human Shield During Retreat Near Kupiansk - [Kyiv Post](https://kyivpost.com/post/85561) — Ukraine Says Russian Troops Led Children Into Gas Pipeline to Cover Retreat - [1news.com.ua](https://1news.com.ua/podii/u-kup-yanskomu-rajoni-rosijski-vijska-vykorystovuvaly-tsyvilnyh-osib-yak-zhyvyj-shhyt-pid-chas-vidstupu-cherez-gazogin.html) — In the Kupyansk Region, Russian Troops Used Civilians as a Living Shield During the Retreat Through the Gas Mine - [5 канал](https://5.ua/suspilstvo/rosiiski-viiskovi-mohly-zalyshaty-kupianshchynu-pid-prykryttiam-tsyvilnykh-khartiia-383927.html) — Russian Military Could Leave Kupyansk Region Under Cover of Civilians — “Charter” - [jauns.lv](https://jauns.lv/raksts/arzemes/730712-video-okupanti-harkivas-apgabala-izmantojusi-civiliedzivotajus-ka-dzivo-vairogu-un-piespiedusi-vinus-doties-pa-gazesvadu-uz-krieviju) — The Occupiers in the Kharkiv Region Have Used Civilians as Human Shields and Forced Them to Travel Through the Gas Pipeline to Russia. - [Unknown](https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1210969.html) — Occupiers use children, elderly as human shields during retreat in Kharkiv region – Khartia - [babel.ua](https://babel.ua/news/130527-rosiyani-vikradayut-civilnih-iz-kup-yanska-cherez-gazovu-trubu-hartiya-zadokumentuvala-ce-na-video) — Russians Kidnap Civilians From Kup'yansk Through a Gas Pipeline. “Charter” Documented It on Video - [Gazeta.ua](https://gazeta.ua/articles/np/_okupanti-vikrali-civilnih-i-pognali-yih-cherez-gazovu-trubu-yak-zhivij-schit/1259272) — The Occupiers Kidnapped Civilians and Drove Them Through a Gas Pipe as a “Living Shield” - [Korrespondent.net](https://korrespondent.net/ukraine/4915455-okkupanty-prykryvauitsia-hrazhdanskymy-otstupaia-yz-kharkovschyny-khartyia) — The Occupying Forces Cover for Civilians by Retreating From Kharkivshkina - [Unknown](https://war.obozrevatel.com/ukr/section-war/news-vykorystaly-yak-zhyvyy-shchyt-okupanty-na-kharkivshchyni-vykraly-tsyvilnykh-i-pohnaly-yikh-cherez-hazovu-trubu-do-rosiyi-khartiya-28-09-2026.html) — Occupiers in Kharkiv Region Kidnapped Civilians and Drove Them Through Gas Pipeline to Russia - [United24](https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/russian-troops-force-civilians-into-6-mile-gas-pipeline-while-using-them-as-cover-22903) — Russian Troops Force Civilians Into 6-Mile Gas Pipeline While Using Them as Cover - [ТСН.ua](https://tsn.ua/ukrayina/dity-ta-litni-liudy-staly-zyvymy-shchytom-okupanty-vtikaiut-iz-rayonu-ukrayinskoho-mista-cherez-trubu-video-3176897.html) — Children and Elderly People Have Become a Living Shield: the Occupiers Flee the Area of the Ukrainian City Through a Pipe - [liga.net](https://news.liga.net/ua/war/video/khartiia-okupanty-vykradaiut-tsyvilnykh-iz-kupianska-cherez-hazovu-trubu-video) — “Charter”: Occupiers Kidnap Civilians From Kupyansk Through Gas Pipeline - [knews.media](https://knews.media/2026/09/28/russian-forces-use-civilians-as-shields-during-kharkiv-retreat) — Russian Forces Use Civilians as Shields During Kharkiv Retreat - [Unknown](https://nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/events/kup-yanska-gromada-rosiyani-viveli-civilnih-cherez-gazogin-prikrivayuchis-nimi-50645117.html) — 10 Km by Pipe in the Dark. Russians Kidnap Civilians From Kupyansk, Force Children and Elderly to Leave Through Gas Pipeline — Charter Video - [Gwara](https://gwaramedia.com/rosijski-vijskovi-prikrivayutsya-czivilnimi-na-kupyanshhini-hartiya) — Russian Military Covers Civilians in Kupyansk Region - [armyinform.com.ua](https://armyinform.com.ua/2026/09/28/na-kupyanshhyni-rosiyany-vykradayut-lyudej-cherez-gazovu-trubu-prykryvayuchy-svij-vidhid) — In Kupyansk Region, Russians Kidnap People Through a Gas Pipe, Covering Their Departure - [Unknown](https://glavcom.ua/country/incidents/okupanti-prikrivalisja-ditmi-tikajuchi-vid-zsu-na-kharkivshchini-video-1145643.html) — Occupiers Took Cover with Children, Fleeing From the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kharkiv Region ## Questions **What happened near Kupiansk?** Russian troops kidnapped nine Ukrainian civilians, including children and the elderly, and forced them into a gas pipeline approximately 10 kilometers long during their retreat. This action was documented by drone footage released by Ukraine's Khartiia Corps. **Why did Ukrainian forces not fire on the group?** Ukrainian forces detected the group but did not open fire to avoid harming the civilians who were being used as human shields by the Russian troops during their retreat. **What is the Ukrainian government's response to the incident?** Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that these actions constitute war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law. He emphasised that such acts must be documented and investigated for those responsible to be held accountable. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/russian-troops-used-civilians-as-human-shields-near-kupiansk. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Russian troops used civilians as human shields near Kupiansk", https://mediabias.news/conflict/russian-troops-used-civilians-as-human-shields-near-kupiansk