Human rights activists call for inclusion of humanitarian issues of TOT residents in negotiations with the russian federation

CrimeaSOS, together with other Ukrainian human rights organizations, issued a joint statement on the need to take into account the humanitarian needs of residents of the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) of Ukraine within the framework of negotiations to end the war with russia. 

Amid active discussion in international and national media of a possible ceasefire or “freezing” of the war, human rights activists emphasize: the rights of the civilian population in the TOT should not be ignored. 

“The situation of Ukrainian citizens living in the TOT of Ukraine is very difficult. Russia systematically imposes its citizenship in the temporarily occupied territories, implements a policy of mass nationalisation of property, abducts, deprives of liberty and tortures civilians. Russia continues to deport, indoctrinate, militarise and transfer Ukrainian children to Russian families,” – the statement says. 

Organizations demand that issues of civilian protection in the TOT become an integral part of agreements on the cessation of hostilities. In particular, it concerns: 

• release of all illegally detained civilians; 
• return of deported citizens, including children; 
• cessation of the practices of enforced disappearances, repressions, mobilization; 
• opening humanitarian corridors and ensuring access for international organizations; 
• a ban on imposing russian citizenship and ensuring the right to reside without russian documents; 
• access to medicine, education, pensions and legal aid. 

This is not the first statement by human rights organizations regarding the need to take into account the humanitarian issues of TOT residents within the framework of peace negotiations. In March 2025, amid active discussions about a potential ceasefire, they already publicly emphasized the critical importance of including the protection of civilians in the TOT on the negotiating agenda..