The overview of the current social and humanitarian situation in the territory of the Donetsk People`s Republic as a result of hostilities between 15 and 21 May 2021

News Overview of the social and humanitarian situation

The May holidays that have come to an end have once again demonstrated the commitment of the inhabitants of the Republic to their history and traditions. Patriotism, reverence for ancestors and respect for the immortal feat of veterans of the Great Patriotic War – this is the very foundation that unites the multinational people of Donbass.

The upbringing of the younger generation with the above qualities is one of the most important tasks for our young state. It is for this reason that work has begun on the construction of a new Patriot park in the Kuibyshevsky district of Donetsk. There is doing to be installed military equipment in the park, both during the Great Patriotic War and the modern period.

The military-patriotic education of young people is especially relevant against the background of the ongoing armed conflict. The ability to act and react during the incessant shelling of peaceful territories by the AFU can save lives in a critical situation. In this context, the JCCC observers are monitoring the increased intensity of attacks by Ukrainian military personnel. In total, during the reporting week, 24 cases of violation of the regime of an open-ended ceasefire by the AFU were recorded. In total, 326 units of ammunition were fired on the territory of the DPR, which is actually four times more than in the previous period. Under shelling were such settlements as: Donetsk (Volvo Center, Trudovskaya Mine settlement), Shirokaya Balka, Mikhailovka, Zhabunki, Petrovskoe, Novolaspa, Leninskoe.

The increase in the intensity of shelling is directly related to the destructive position of the Ukrainian representatives at the metting in the CG. During the last meeting, the Ukrainian side blocked the discussion of all issues in the work of the Contact Group on Donbass. Ukraine did not give any answer to all the proposals of the LDPR for an armistice and, contrary to direct demands, avoided direct dialogue with Donbass. Thus, in fact, Ukrainian representatives blocked work in all areas.

This position of Kiev, expressed in the refusal of full-fledged communication with representatives of the LDPR, only aggravates the already tense situation on the line of demarcation. Moreover, the Ukrainian side refuses to provide representatives of the Republics with security guarantees for the restoration of infrastructure destroyed as a result of hostilities. This directly entails the danger of the humanitarian disasters.

However, despite the difficult situation at the front, the people of Donbass continue to demonstrate to the world that the DPR is a country of talented and outstanding people. Thus, the badminton player of the DPR won 13 medals at the competitions that took place on May 19 in the Russian Federation. The tournament was attended by 100 athletes from the Krasnodar Territory. As a result of the tournament, our athletes took 4 gold, 7 silver and 2 bronze medals.

Another important event for the residents of the Republic was the fact that this year 4,000 graduates of DPR universities will receive Russian diplomas. Russian diplomas will be awarded to graduates of Donetsk National Medical University of Maxim Gorky, Donetsk National University of Economics and Trade named after M. Tugan-Baranovsky, Donbass National Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture. And for the first time this year, the presentation will take place at the Donetsk National Technical University. Obtaining Russian diplomas will allow specialists from the DPR to gain wider opportunities in realizing their potential at the international level, as well as to bring the experience gained to the Republic.

Against the background of the aggravation of the situation associated with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, as well as, despite the beginning of the summer season, the Ombudsman urges citizens to remain vigilant and comply with the necessary sanitary and epidemiological standards.

 

Since the beginning of 2021, the Ombudsman received 1381 complaints.

All received complaints can be divided into nine categories: personal rights – 454 complaints, economic rights – 103 complaints, social rights – 281 complaints; guarantees of human rights in civil, administrative and criminal proceedings – 155 complaints; enforcement of human rights in penitentiary institutions – 61 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of education – 11 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of healthcare – 54 complaints; enforcement of rights of mothers, children and families – 11 complaints, issues connected with the political and military situation in DPR – 251 complaints.

The number of appeals (complaints, applications) from citizens,  submitted to the Office of DPR Ombudsman as of 21.05.2021

Personal rights

Human rights guarantees in civil, administrative and criminal proceedings

Enforcement of rights in the field of healthcare

Economic rights

Enforcement of human rights in penitentiary institutions

Enforcement of rights of mothers, children and families

Social rights

Enforcement of rights in the field of education

Issues connected with the political and military situation in DPR

  1. Death toll, injuries to civilians and soldiers as a result of hostilities in the territory of the Donetsk People`s Republic

The DPR Ombudsman’s Office documents cases of violations of Donbas citizens’ rights by the Ukrainian side, including the right to life, personal integrity and freedom of movement.

Within the period between 14 and 21 May 2021, according to the official sources, 8 servicemen of the Republic sustained injuries.

Within the period between 01 January and 21 May 2021, in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic, 37 people sustained injuries and traumas of varying severities as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine: 31 servicemen of the Republic and 6 civilians.

Within the period between 14 and 21 May 2021, in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic, 5 servicemen of the Republic died.

Within the period between 01 January and 21 May 2021, in the territory of the DPR, 34 servicemen of the Republic and 4 civilians died as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.

It should be noted that since the armed conflict began in the Donetsk People’s Republic, 4,999 people, including 91 children died.

Officially confirmed information on individuals who have been wounded since the beginning of the conflict continues to be reported to the DPR Ombudsman’s Office.

 

  1. Register of the prisoners of war, missing soldiersand civilians

As of May 21, 2021, the Ukrainian side detains about 90 people

As of May 21, 2021, 366 people are on the list of missing persons.

 

  1. Register of displaced persons and affected citizens

At the time of armed conflict, the civilian population living in the zone of fighting and near the contact line is often affected. With the view to protect the human right to life and security of the person, and to provide assistance to victims as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine, social housing objects (dormitories, preventative clinics, health care centres).

With the coming into force of the Order of the Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic No. 137 of 24.04.2018, territorial commissions in cities and districts are now responsible for accommodating affected civilians. They work under the supervision of the Republican Commission on Resettlement of Affected Persons chaired by the DPR Human Rights Ombudsman.

There are currently 852 accommodation places in the Donetsk People’s Republic available for citizens of this category. 61 social housing objects have been opened in the territory of DPR. 53 of them operate, 8 of them are held in reserve. Since the beginning of the conflict, 9271 people, including 2139 children have been registered as persons affected as a result of the conflict. Currently, 1872 people live in social housing objects of the Donetsk People’s Republic, including 317 underage children, 7399 people live in the housing fund, including 1822 children.