This report examines the systematic unlawful deprivation of liberty of civilians in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine in 2025 and their subsequent transfer to the Russian Federation. Based on 219 interviews conducted by the Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners of the Kremlin, the report documents patterns of arbitrary detention, incommunicado detention, torture, ill-treatment, forced transfers, and unfair trials.

It shows how civilians are moved through a network of unofficial detention sites, transit points, pre-trial detention centres and penal institutions, while Russian judicial and penitentiary systems are used to formalise and conceal unlawful persecution. The findings indicate serious violations of international humanitarian and criminal law, which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Download PDF

Other Analytics

See all
Analytical Monitoring Report
March 1, 2024

How and why does the state not comprehensively protect victims of captivity?

Analysis of the effectiveness of the implementation and implementation of the Law of Ukraine "On Social and Legal Protection of Persons Deprived of Personal Freedom as a Result of Armed Aggression Against Ukraine, and Their Family Members".
November 30, 2024

Analytical review of the activities of the NGO “Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners of the Kremlin” on documenting Russian war crimes against civilians in Ukraine in November 2024

Since 2022, we have interviewed 402 witnesses of enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and crimes against civilians, including shelling of civilian infrastructure, appropriation of private property by the occupiers, and illegal deprivation of liberty. As of the end of November 2024, information on 254 civilians who were arbitrarily detained by representatives of the Russian Federation or groups controlled by the aggressor country was found, of which 16 were identified during the processing of testimonies in November 2024.