Geneva, The United Nations Human Rights Office released a report on March 20, 2024, detailing a pervasive climate of fear created by the Russian Federation in the occupied areas of Ukraine. The report accuses Russia of committing widespread violations of international humanitarian and human rights law to cement its control over the territories. Based on interviews with over 2,300 victims and witnesses, the findings reveal efforts to impose Russian language, citizenship, laws, and educational curricula, suppress Ukrainian cultural expressions, and dismantle Ukraine’s governance structures in the occupied regions.
According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the report underscores the profound and lasting impact of the Russian Federation’s actions on the social fabric of communities and the broader Ukrainian society. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk highlighted the rupture in social cohesion and the isolation experienced by individuals, emphasizing the enduring consequences for Ukrainian society. The report focuses on territories occupied after the full-scale armed attack by Russia on February 24, 2022, documenting arbitrary detentions, torture, enforced disappearances, and attacks on peaceful protests, among other violations.
The occupying forces’ suppression of Ukrainian identity particularly affected children, with Russian curricula replacing Ukrainian education systems and textbooks justifying the armed conflict. The imposition of Russian passports and the restriction of freedoms for those refusing them further illustrated the coercive measures employed to solidify control. The report also sheds light on the challenges faced by areas recaptured by Ukraine, including the restoration of services, de-mining efforts, and addressing the psychological and economic aftermath of the occupation.
The High Commissioner called for a comprehensive approach to accountability, including criminal justice and reparative measures, to address the violations. He urged the international community to support Ukraine in these efforts and reiterated calls for Russia to cease its armed aggression and adhere to international law.