to 01 July 2022
The special operation continues. According to the latest data, 240 settlements have already been liberated in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Active battles are going on in the Slavyansk, Artemovsky and Avdeevsky directions.
Due to constant defeats on all fronts, the militants of the armed formations of Ukraine continue to vent their powerlessness and failures on the civilian population of Donbass. For example, on June 27, AFU fired 155 shells and mines at the territory of the DPR, using rocket and artillery, as well as heavy mortars. 5 civilians were killed, 24 people, including two teenagers born in 2007, were injured.
It was the shelling of peaceful cities of the Republic that became one of the main topics of the meeting between the Human Rights Ombudsman in the DPR Daria Morozova and the head of the UN monitoring mission for human rights in Ukraine Matilda Bogner. In particular, the Ombudsman handed over comprehensive information about the ongoing shelling of the civilian population of the Republic by Ukrainian militants and spoke about the facts of Ukraine’s war crimes revealed in the course of work in the liberated territories. The human rights activist also drew the attention of Ms. Bogner to the critical situation with the rights of prisoners in Ukraine, pointing out the need for urgent response measures to prevent torture and humiliation of the detained participants of the special operation.
Unfortunately, a few days later, the Ombudsman’s fears on this issue turned out to be justified. During this week’s exchange of detainees, almost all returned citizens of the DPR were found to have signs of torture.
“Unfortunately, most of the guys experienced the atrocities of Ukrainian punishers. 95% of our fighters were tortured, beaten and otherwise ill-treated. Most often it was about the torture of electric shocks. In addition, all servicemen’s documents were confiscated and destroyed. In court, the detained fighters were forced to plead guilty, promising in return to be included in the exchange lists,” the Ombudsman of the Republic noted.
At the moment, many of those who returned will have treatment for complications in the medical institutions of the DPR after their experiences in captivity. Of course, all the necessary assistance will be provided in full by the state. The Ombudsman expresses the hope that these problems will be reflected in the new Report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine, published and presented on June 29.
Another important event was the adoption by the deputies of the People’s Council of amendments to the law of the DPR “On social protection of war veterans”. According to the document, now the list of participants in hostilities includes military personnel and members of special forces created in wartime and taking part in battles as part of a special operation in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, as well as employees of republican bodies who directly carried out demining during the SMO. In addition, the law now classifies citizens of the DPR who became invalids as a result of injuries, contusions or illnesses as a result of hostilities during a special operation, or who became disabled as a result of mine clearance as war invalids.
However, despite the hostilities, the Republic continues to develop in the cultural and international environment. Thus, in Tula, an exhibition of works by small artists of Donbass “Based on the works of Nikolai Nekrasov” was opened. The exposition was opened in the exhibition hall of the Tula Museum Association. It included 30 works of winners and participants of the competition. An agreement on partnership cooperation was also signed with the leadership of the Tula Museum Association, which includes 17 institutions.
Such actions once again demonstrate the unity of the DPR and the Russian Federation in the development and building of a just and humane society in our states.
Since the beginning of 2022, the Ombudsman received 14806 complaints.
- Death toll and 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 Donbass citizens’ rights by the Ukrainian side, including the right to life, personal integrity and freedom of movement.
2. 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, there social facilities (dormitories, preventative clinics, health care centres).
In accordance with 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.
