Igor Kotelianets, head of the NGO ‘Association of Relatives of Kremlin Political Prisoners,’ reported on Hromadske Radio about a new wave of detentions of civilians in the temporarily occupied territories, targeting people who have never left the occupied territories but have relatives in Ukraine-controlled territory.

‘They started coming to those who never left the occupied territory but have relatives here. This is a separate category of families where some members left and others stayed for various reasons. It would seem that they had already adapted somehow... But suddenly the occupiers come,’ Kotelianets emphasised.

According to him, the occupying forces are deliberately identifying and persecuting those who maintain ties with Ukraine, even if people have lived ‘in the shadows’ for years and tried to avoid any attention.

This practice is a continuation of the policy of total control and intimidation of the civilian population and a gross violation of international humanitarian law.

Link to publication - https://hromadske.radio/news/2025/07/15/pochalysia-zatrymannia-liudey-iaki-ne-vyizhdzhaly-z-okupatsii-ale-maiut-rodychiv-na-kontrolovaniy-ukrainoiu-terytorii-ihor-kotelianets?fbclid=IwY2xjawMrl9pleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFIQ2hZMWFUNzhMOVBBaHJ2AR58jTn5w9il8XGoxpTI90banDtCsjZvGvh9wt1wpECMyZSzYgahp7XXadbRxw_aem_AM_aR0gGqGueKkBnn85N7Q

‍

‍