Peshkov’s comments came after CNN reported that local Ukrainian officials had been arrested and that journalists and civil society members had disappeared and were still missing. Commenting on the CNN report, Peshkov said that the Kremlin is not aware of such cases, but said that they should be carefully considered individually. “It’s very important to look at every single case, every first and last name,” Peshkov told CNN. “No one contacted us [about it] “We do not have such information,” he added. In addition to the CNN report, the United Nations Human Rights Watch (HRMMU) in Ukraine said dozens of Ukrainians, including local officials, activists and journalists, were being arbitrarily detained and enforced. At least 45 civilian detentions have been reported by the HRMMU since the start of the war on February 24, according to an HRMMU spokesman. On Monday, the mission said it had so far documented 24 cases of arrests of local officials in Russian-occupied areas due to the conflict, 13 of which were subsequently released. Observers also recorded the disappearances of 21 journalists, civil society activists, protesters and civilians who “vocally resisted the invasion of Kyiv, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhia.” Some of those who went missing were arrested during protests against the Russian invasion or because they openly expressed support for Ukraine. A handful were subsequently released, the spokesman said, though the exact numbers are still being verified by the mission. “The information on the number of released persons is pending verification. The HRMMU has received many complaints about missing citizens, which are also pending confirmation,” the spokesman said. “There is reason to believe that some of them may also have been detained and may have been forcibly disappeared,” they added. Families are often deprived of any information about the fate of detainees. Many are often too terrified to talk about the disappearance of their relatives, fearing that it might provoke reactions against them or their loved ones.
title: “Russia Says It Will Drastically Reduce Military Assault On Kyiv And Chernihiv " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-17” author: “Dora Ketchie”
Peshkov’s comments came after CNN reported that local Ukrainian officials had been arrested and that journalists and civil society members had disappeared and were still missing. Commenting on the CNN report, Peshkov said that the Kremlin is not aware of such cases, but said that they should be carefully considered individually. “It’s very important to look at every single case, every first and last name,” Peshkov told CNN. “No one contacted us [about it] “We do not have such information,” he added. In addition to the CNN report, the United Nations Human Rights Watch (HRMMU) in Ukraine said dozens of Ukrainians, including local officials, activists and journalists, were being arbitrarily detained and enforced. At least 45 civilian detentions have been reported by the HRMMU since the start of the war on February 24, according to an HRMMU spokesman. On Monday, the mission said it had so far documented 24 cases of arrests of local officials in Russian-occupied areas due to the conflict, 13 of which were subsequently released. Observers also recorded the disappearances of 21 journalists, civil society activists, protesters and civilians who “vocally resisted the invasion of Kyiv, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhia.” Some of those who went missing were arrested during protests against the Russian invasion or because they openly expressed support for Ukraine. A small number were later released, the spokesman said, although the exact numbers are still being verified by the mission. “The information on the number of released persons is pending verification. The HRMMU has received many complaints about missing citizens, which are also pending confirmation,” the spokesman said. “There is reason to believe that some of them may also have been detained and may have been forcibly disappeared,” they added. Families are often deprived of any information about the fate of detainees. Many are often too terrified to talk about the disappearance of their relatives, fearing that it might provoke reactions against them or their loved ones.
