Up to 5 million Ukrainians live in the occupied territories, where their rights are systematically violated — a spokesperson for the Ombudsman

Olga Altunina, a spokesperson for the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for the Rights of Citizens Affected by Armed Aggression, spoke about this in an interview with Socportal.

According to her, the humanitarian situation in the occupied territories remains critical due to hostilities, the destruction of infrastructure and restrictions on freedom of movement.

“Citizens’ fundamental rights – to life, liberty, education, property, citizenship and cultural identity – are being systematically violated,” Altunina emphasised.

One of the main tools of pressure remains the forced issuance of passports to the population.

Furthermore, Russia continues the practice of so-called nationalisation of Ukrainian property and is tightening its control over property transactions.

The Ombudsman’s Office is paying particular attention to the intensification of ideological influence on children and young people through the education system, youth centres and the development of cadet programmes in the occupied territories.

“An important area of the occupiers’ activities is the continued formation of Cossack organisations and the development of cadet education in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine,” noted the Ombudsman’s representative.