Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported extensive rights abuses by Russian authorities in occupied Ukrainian territories and Crimea, citing arbitrary detentions, suppression of freedoms and violations of international humanitarian law.
In its World Report 2025, HRW found that since Russia’s occupation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, authorities have imposed Russian laws and administrative systems in captured regions, forcing residents to obtain Russian citizenship under threat of harassment or detention.
Arbitrary conscriptions of civilians into the Russian military, classified as war crimes, are also widespread.
The report also highlights a systematic effort to suppress Ukrainian identity through restrictions on the Ukrainian language and the imposition of Russian curricula in schools.
In Crimea, Crimean Tatars and other critics of the occupation face harassment, arbitrary arrests and convictions for vaguely defined offenses like “discrediting the Russian armed forces.” Detainees often endure inadequate medical care and poor prison conditions.
Attacks on Civilian Infrastructure
In 2024, Russia intensified its strikes on Ukraine’s power infrastructure, launching at least 101 attacks in 17 regions between March and August.
These strikes caused widespread blackouts, leaving vulnerable populations, including those dependent on medical devices, at significant risk.
The report said: “At least 219 civilians were killed and 1,018 injured in July, making it the deadliest month for civilians in the past two years. Russian forces’ strikes on multiple cities on July 8 killed at least 43 civilians, including five children and injured at least 190.
“The attacks also caused significant damage to vital civilian infrastructure, including the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital in Kyiv, the country’s largest children’s hospital.”
It added that humanitarian groups have condemned the attacks, calling them violations of international law.
Land Seizures and Legal Suppression
In March 2024, Russia introduced measures to confiscate “unused” properties in occupied areas, disproportionately affecting displaced Ukrainians unable to maintain their homes.
Religious freedom is also under threat, with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church facing surveillance and prosecution.
In Crimea, politically sensitive defense lawyers have been stripped of licenses, further undermining the rule of law.
Activists in detention report torture, inadequate healthcare and ill-treatment. Ukrainian authorities secured the release of two Crimean Tatar activists in 2024, but thousands remain detained.
Broader Human Rights Violations
HRW also reported that over 14,000 civilians are estimated to be unlawfully detained, with reports of sexual violence and torture in custody.
The report said: “Russian forces appear to have summarily executed at least 15 Ukrainian soldiers and possibly six more as they attempted to surrender between December 2023 and February 2024.
“As of November, Ukrainian authorities were conducting 53 criminal investigations into the extrajudicial execution of 177 Ukrainian POWs since 2022.”
The report went on to say: “Russian forces continued to torture and mistreat Ukrainian POWs and civilians in Russian custody.
“Most detainees are held in poor prison conditions, without access to adequate food and medical care. In October, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded that ‘Russian authorities have committed torture against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war as a crime against humanity.’
“Around 80 percent of former POWs reported sexual violence while in Russian captivity.”
Russian authorities are also accused of conscripting civilians in occupied areas into its military, a violation of international law.
The International Criminal Court has issued multiple arrest warrants against Russian officials, with human rights groups continuing to call for accountability for abuses.
