VIOLATION OF HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS IN THE TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF UKRAINE DURING THE FULL-SCALE INVASION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Abstract

The article is devoted to the pressing issue of human rights violations in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine during the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. The authors conduct an in-depth analysis of the situation, relying on the Constitution of Ukraine, international law, and numerous documented facts of violations. The study reveals a wide range of violations that are systematically perpetrated by Russian occupation forces. These include: forced imposition of Russian citizenship, torture and inhumane treatment of civilians, illegal seizure of real estate, restrictions on freedom of movement and forced deportation, restrictions on freedom of speech, and the spread of propaganda. Particular attention is paid to the facts of mass killings of civilians, including the "Bucha massacre" and mass burials in Izium. The authors present shocking statistics on the number of victims, including children, which indicates the particular cruelty of the occupiers. The article highlights the issue of sexual violence as a tool of war, citing data on the number of recorded cases, including against minors. It is emphasized that these actions are part of the systematic policy of the occupiers. The violations of the rights of prisoners of war, which are contrary to the Geneva Convention, and the illegal involvement of civilians, including children, in armed conflict are considered separately. The authors describe cases of using children as spies and spotters for shelling, as well as their involvement in military-patriotic organizations in the occupied territories. The study analyzes the tactics of creating conditions for famine as a method of subjugating the Ukrainian population, drawing parallels with the policies of the Holodomor of 1932-1933. The authors point to the systematic and purposeful nature of the occupiersʼ actions in this direction. The article examines the role of international organizations in documenting and investigating these crimes, including the activities of the International Criminal Court, the International Commission of Inquiry into Crimes of Aggression Committed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the Joint Investigation Team, and the European Union. Particular attention is paid to the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross, including both the positive aspects of their activities and controversial cases related to representatives of the organization in Russia. The authors conclude that the actions of the Russian occupation forces can be qualified as genocide of the Ukrainian people. They emphasize that these actions are aimed solely at the extermination of Ukrainians as a nation and have no logical or strategic character. This study is an important contribution to the documentation of war crimes and human rights violations in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine. It provides valuable information and analysis that can be used for further legal and international actions aimed at bringing the perpetrators to justice and protecting the rights of the Ukrainian people. The article emphasizes the need for further detailed investigation and analysis of these violations to ensure the inevitability of punishment for the crimes committed.