The overview of the current social and humanitarian situation in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic as a result of hostilities between 20 and 26 June 2020

News Overview of the social and humanitarian situation

This week was marked by several significant occasions.

The situation caused by the pandemic COVID-19 has had unpleasant consequences not only for citizens living in the Republic, but also for those who hadn’t come home or had left for Ukraine before the borders were closed. Intense negotiations have been being conducted for more than two months and events for implementing a safe mechanism for the pass of citizens were prepared. From June 22 on the checkpoint “Olenovka” there is the daily pass of wishing to leave for the territory of Ukraine. The mode of operation is from 9:00 to 18:00 every day. There is both a pedestrian and a transport crossing.

The situation with the pass of people in the territory of the DPR is a little tougher. A high incidence of coronavirus infection in Ukraine demand special care about the issue of acceptance of citizens. It is connected to the threat of destabilization epidemiological situation in the Republic.

On June 25 across the checkpoint “Olenovka” for this reason the pass of citizens to the territory of the Republic was done. Only people whose names were in the list compiled by the Interagency operational headquarters for the prevention of spreading the coronavirus infection, which was send to the Ukrainian side, were allowed enter through the checkpoint. Now the new list for crossing the border is forming.

The Commissioner for human rights in the DPR calls citizens to refrain from trips to the territory of Ukraine if there are no urgent and good reasons, since after visiting Ukraine citizens will be able to come back to the Republic only with the permission from the headquarters and with the accepted condition of consent to carry out the necessary quarantine measures. The importance of the maintaining epidemiological situation at a normal level is still high. Today 1069 registered and confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Republic. 695 patients are in treatment, 66 cases are fatal. All necessary measures are being actively taken to minimize the consequences of the pandemic.

The forbidden of conducting mass events and meetings was one of such measures which enabled to avoid a high level of the incidence. Unfortunately, for citizens of the Republic it was connected to the most iconic holiday – Victory Day on May 9. The Victory Parade in the honor of the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War was transferred by the authorities for an unlimited period.

On June 25 the large-scale military parade took place on the central square in the capital of the DPR that every citizen of the Republic could attend. Viewers could see columns of armoured personal carriers, tanks, artillery systems and air-defence systems. The holiday was finished with fireworks. The event has become a symbol of steadfastness and power of people of Donbas that continue matters of own forefathers defending the ideal of equality and justice. The similar parades took place in Russia and Belorussia.

Since the beginning of 2020, the Ombudsman received 2,682 complaints.

All received complaints can be divided into nine categories: personal rights – 1138 complaints, economic rights – 91 complaints, social rights – 362 complaints; guarantees of human rights in civil, administrative and criminal proceedings – 237 complaints; enforcement of human rights in penitentiary institutions – 62 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of education – 4 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of healthcare – 69 complaints; enforcement of rights of mothers, children and families – 20 complaints, issues connected with the political and military situation in DPR – 699 complaints.

  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.

On 21 June in Petrovskiy district of Donetsk, a civilian woman (born in 1961) sustained bullet injure as a result of shelling by forces of Ukrainian army.

On 22 June Aleksandrovka was under shelling during the military operations by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in breach of international humanitarian law of the prohibition of attacks at civilians or civilian objects and of disproportionate attacks.

As a result of shelling a civilian man (born in 1975) was dead. Two more civilians were under fire with the victim. Ukrainian soldiers continued the shelling of the town in spite of requests for accessing to the victim. Ukrainian side provided security assurances of the complying with the ceasefire only the next morning. The evacuation of the dead man and two civilians was held at 8:40, after that the AFU resumed shelling of the town.

Within the period between 1 January and 26 June 2020, 67 people, including 39 DPR servicemen and 28 civilians (including 6 child and 9 women) sustained injuries and traumas of varying severities as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.

Within the period between 20 and 26 June 2020, in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic 1 civilian man died.

Within the period between 1 January and 26 June 2020, 27 DPR servicemen and 5 civilians died as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.

To be specific, since the beginning of the armed conflict 4,929 people died, including 81 children.

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

  1. Register of the prisoners of war, missing soldiers andcivilians

Based on the updated figures as of 26th June 2020, there are 103 people detained by the Ukrainian side, among them:

  • 18 persons, excepting for an unidentified location in the territory controlled by Ukraine;

Including 6 persons:

  • a man, born in 1970, was detained on 07.02.2018 in Kiev by officers of the SSU;
  • a man, born in 1984, detained on 14.11.2018 in the Kherson region;
  • a man, born in 1983, detained on 22.05.2020 in the Kharkov region;
  • a woman, born in 1958, detained on 06.02.2015 in Zaporozhye;
  • a man, born in 1984, detained on 30.09.2017 in the Krasnoarmeysk district;
  • a man, born in 1975, detained on 05.03.2020 in Borispol.

On 26 June 2020 465 people are considered missing. They could have been taken prisoner in Ukraine.

  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 centers).

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 supervision of the Republican Commission on Resettlement of Affected Persons chaired by the DPR Human Rights Ombudsman.

There are currently 914 accommodation places in the Donetsk People’s Republic available for citizens of this category. 64 social housing objects have been opened in the territory of DPR. 55 of them operate, 9 of them are held in reserve. Since the beginning of the conflict, 7,037 people, including 1,604 children have been registered as persons affected as a result of the conflict. Currently, 2,110 people live in social housing objects of the Donetsk People’s Republic, including 378 underage children, 4,927 people live in the housing fund, including 1,226 children.