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Ukrainian authorities forming purge brigades in Kherson, regional official says

Alexander Malkevich stressed that Ukrainian law enforcement had described the purges as "filtration activities," then as "stabilization activities," and then as "interviews" in a bid to make it sound less tough

GENICHESK, November 24. /TASS/. Mop-up groups are being formed in the city of Kherson consisting of Ukrainian service members, security service SBU officers, foreign mercenaries and local volunteers, Freelance Advisor to the Kherson Regional Governor Alexander Malkevich told TASS on Thursday.

"Unfortunately, there are facts that groups are being formed by the SBU, the Ukrainian Armed Forces and foreign mercenaries, as well as local volunteers, that will carry out purge campaigns among civilians. There is evidence that they are conducting raids to seize and punish the brave boatmen who evacuated people [from Kherson to the left bank of the Dnieper River] at dawn and during night time until the very last day," Malkevich pointed out.

He added that Ukrainian law enforcement had described the purges as "filtration activities," then as "stabilization activities," and then as "interviews" in a bid to make it sound less tough. However, the essence of those actions remained the same. "People disappear after these interviews because it is in fact interrogations followed by arrests, torture and executions without trials," Malkevich stressed.

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