All articles tagged with #russian occupation
The Mariupol Drama Theatre, destroyed in a 2022 Russian airstrike and a symbol of the conflict, is set to reopen with a Russian fairytale performance, amid controversy and accusations of cynicism and war crimes, as Russia consolidates control over Mariupol through reconstruction and property seizures, disregarding the city's tragic history and residents' rights.
Three years after Russian occupation, Kherson remains under threat with ongoing shelling and drone attacks, yet residents demonstrate resilience through underground activities and protective measures, highlighting their hope and determination to survive amidst ongoing conflict.
A Ukrainian teenager, Evhen Ihnatov, recounts the brutal impact of Russian occupation in Kherson, including the death of his mother, the abduction of his brother, and widespread mistreatment and propaganda against Ukrainians, highlighting the human toll and atrocities committed during the conflict.
A report by Save Ukraine and War Child U.K. reveals that over half of Ukrainian children under Russian occupation have faced indoctrination, with some subjected to torture, sexual violence, and forced militarization, as Russia aims to erase Ukrainian identity and potentially use children in its military efforts. The report highlights the severity of the abuses and calls for international action to return abducted children and address these crimes.
Donetsk, a city in eastern Ukraine under Russian control, faces a severe water crisis due to destroyed canals, damaged infrastructure, and neglect, with residents resorting to alternative water sources. Russia claims that taking more of the region would help restore water supply, but the ongoing conflict and damage have made recovery difficult, highlighting the neglect of occupied territories.
Ukrainian residents of Mariupol deny Russian propaganda about the city being repaired and thriving, describing ongoing destruction, shortages of water, food, and medicine, and the use of propaganda and re-education in schools. Despite hardships, some residents engage in secret resistance activities against Russian occupation, risking their lives to gather intelligence and maintain Ukrainian identity. The residents emphasize their desire for liberation rather than territorial concessions.
President Zelenskyy of Ukraine emphasized the need to prepare a strong reserve to disrupt the enemy's counteroffensive, stressing the importance of trained personnel with combat experience. He highlighted the necessity for longer rotations for professional brigades and the need for an equally powerful reserve. Zelenskyy also emphasized the importance of defensive military preconditions and retaliatory strikes on Russian military concentrations, and stated that Ukraine has shared specific information with its partners regarding the military situation. A draft law on mobilization may be submitted to the parliament on April 10.
After 10 years of Russian occupation, Crimea has become highly militarized, subsidized, and isolated, with a significant shift in its economy towards dependence on the Russian federal budget and the military-industrial complex. The population has seen a mass resettlement of Russians and the deportation of Ukrainians, while education has been heavily Russified and the indigenous Crimean Tatars have faced repression. As Ukraine aims to liberate Crimea, local partisans have played a key role in aiding Ukrainian military operations on the peninsula, and Ukraine is actively preparing for Crimean reintegration, but the process will be challenging.
One year after the end of Russia's occupation, the city of Kherson in Ukraine still bears the scars of war. More than 70% of the prewar population has fled, and Russian missiles and artillery continue to bombard the city. The region has seen over 400 civilian deaths and hundreds more injured since liberation. Despite initial hopes for further territorial gains, Ukraine's counteroffensive has stalled, leaving the war in a stalemate. The occupation has also left a legacy of suspicion and accusations of collaboration, with over 500 locals suspected of collaborating with Russian forces. However, there were also widespread acts of resistance against the occupiers.
A Ukrainian family of nine, including two young children, was brutally executed in their sleep in the Russian-occupied town of Volnovakha. Two Russian soldiers, allegedly drunk, gunned down the Kapkanets family after they refused to give up their home for a Russian military unit. The killers used silenced machine guns to methodically kill each family member. The victims include the head of the household, his wife, their son and daughter-in-law, their grandchildren, and the wife's brother. Distressing photos show the aftermath of the massacre. Two Russian soldiers have been arrested and face murder charges. The motive appears to be a personal conflict, and the suspects are believed to be from Russia's Far East, possibly Chechen.
A family of nine, including two young children, were found shot dead in their home in the Russian-occupied town of Volnovakha in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine alleges that the family was slain by Russian occupying forces following an argument, while Russian authorities claim that two Russian soldiers have been arrested in connection with the killings. The incident has sparked outrage and investigations by both nations. Volnovakha has been occupied by Russian forces since March 2022, and this month, Ukrainian forces have been resisting a renewed Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine.
Despite the risks and challenges posed by ongoing Russian attacks, labor scarcity, and a shortage of goods, Ukraine's largest retailers, including Okko, Eva, Comfy, Dnipro-M, and the Fozzy Group, are returning to front-line and liberated areas. These retailers view their return as a humanitarian mission to bring normalcy back to devastated regions and provide critical support to the local population and military. They offer essential products, deliver humanitarian aid, and create employment opportunities. However, the scarcity of personnel and concerns about employee safety remain significant challenges. Despite these obstacles, Ukraine's GDP has grown by 9.1% year-on-year, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of businesses in the face of adversity.
A precision missile strike on a cafe hosting a soldier's wake in the village of Hroza, Ukraine, resulted in the deaths of 52 people out of a population of 300. The strike, believed to have been fired by Russia, obliterated the cafe and devastated the community. Locals suspect that someone from the area may have tipped off Russian forces about the gathering. The village, which had been under Russian occupation until September 2022, is strictly civilian, with no military presence. The attack has left many grieving and searching for answers, while authorities investigate the possibility of betrayal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the arrival of the first batch of U.S.-made M1 Abrams tanks in Ukraine, which will strengthen their actions against Russian occupiers. However, fewer than half of the expected tanks have arrived so far. Meanwhile, a U.N. panel announced that some Ukrainian citizens have been tortured to death under Russian occupation, with reports of brutal torture and sexual violence against women. In the battleground, a town near Kherson was shelled, and Russian forces shot down two Ukrainian drones. Zelensky vowed to retaliate against Russian attacks. In global impact, the Canadian speaker of the House of Commons apologized for praising a 98-year-old Ukrainian man who served in a Nazi military unit, and the United States offered a $2 billion loan to Poland for military modernization. Additionally, Russia added the president of the International Criminal Court to its wanted list.
Ukraine launched a second missile attack on the Crimean city of Sevastopol, damaging a pier and a park, as part of its counteroffensive against Russian occupation. The attack came a day after the Ukrainian military destroyed the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the city. Ukrainian intelligence reported that nine Russian military personnel were killed and 16 wounded in the strike. The Ukrainian counteroffensive has made slow progress, and President Biden is expected to announce the provision of long-range cluster missiles to Ukraine to bolster their efforts.