1. Introduction: Scale of Deportation and International Response
The full-scale armed invasion of the Russian Federation in Ukraine is characterized by the deliberate use of forced population displacement as a strategic tool of warfare. The transformation of civilian displacement from a byproduct of hostilities into a method of demographic and social deconstruction of Ukrainian society has forced the international community to recognize this issue as a priority. The central element of this policy is the deportation of minors. According to official Ukrainian statistics, 16,226 children have been deported, of which only 308 have been returned to date.
February 2026 marks four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 — and fourteen years since the aggression against Ukraine began in February 2014 with the occupation of Crimea and the outbreak of armed conflict in the east. While the war’s roots stretch back more than a decade, the devastation inflicted during the past four years alone has been staggering. Even if we consider only the casualties, displacement, and destruction recorded since 2022, the scale of suffering is horrifying and continues to deepen.
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A human rights view on the completion of the reburial of occupation victims
In December 2025, Izium completed a process that lasted almost three years: the identification and reburial of 449 people who died during the Russian occupation of the city in 2022. For some, this may appear to be the conclusion of a technical or administrative procedure. For the human rights community, it is a far deeper event — one about human dignity, the right to truth, and accountability for the gravest crimes.
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Gender-based violence in the context of war is not only a violation of human rights but also a systematic tool of aggression and control. The Russian-Ukrainian war has shown how sexual violence and torture are used to intimidate, coerce, and discredit civilians, journalists, and prisoners of war. Understanding the scale and specificity of this phenomenon is crucial for effective documentation, support for victims, and holding perpetrators accountable.
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Russia's war in Ukraine is not just a fight for territory. It's a fight for humanity itself. When civilians become targets, when children are abducted to shield soldiers, and the elderly are shot for stepping outside — this is more than war. This is a crime against humanity.
September 2025. Eastern Ukraine trembles under a new wave of violence. While battles rage in Kupiansk, Myrove, and Shandryholove, another, darker truth emerges — open terror against civilians by Russian occupying forces.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a critical level. According to recent reports, more than 120 people, including children, have died from hunger. Medical personnel and international organizations report widespread famine and severe exhaustion among civilians.
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The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a critical level. According to recent reports, more than 120 people, including children, have died from hunger. Medical personnel and international organizations report widespread famine and severe exhaustion among civilians.The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate rapidly. Following the expiration of the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt on March 18, 2024, Israel resumed military operations and imposed a full blockade on the territory. Despite a subsequent partial easing of restrictions and the entry of limited humanitarian aid, the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe remains critical.
According to the latest UN data, funding for humanitarian operations is being reduced in 2025, and the situation in conflict hotspots is expected to deteriorate significantly — including in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia. Unfortunately, it is impossible to collect accurate statistical data, as Russia consistently denies access even to civilian observers and international humanitarian missions. Moreover, the information provided by Russia does not match eyewitness accounts from people who have fled the occupied territories.
So, what is the real situation regarding basic humanitarian needs — such as access to drinking water, essential food supplies, and primary medical care — in Russian-controlled areas, according to eyewitness testimonies?