The Strategic Goal of the Russian Federation is the Depopulation of Ukrainian Territories — Research

Since 2014, Ukrainian researchers, public activists and scholars have usually avoided any detailed analysis of actions taken by the Russian Federation targeting the destruction of Ukrainian identity in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. However, today, when about 20% of Ukraine’s territory is under the occupation, and Russia launches large scale de-Ukrainization in all seized territories, we cannot stand aside. The simplest step to take would be to document the episodes occurring in the TOTs, and outline RF’s approach to destroying all things Ukrainian. This report is the first attempt to provide the most detailed overview possible for the cultural policy of the occupying government in the so-called LPR and DPR. Moreover, we intend to describe the “Crimean scenario” of cultural occupation which is currently under way in the seized parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts.

Ukrainian media company Starlight Media and Civil Network OPORA are launching a joint informational and educational campaign aimed at motivating Ukrainians to testify about ear crimes committed by Russians. This informational cooperation started in the fall of last year and continues due to the support of the UK government. In February 2024, as part of this joint work, a thematic social ad was released on the media company's TV channels.

On February 15, 2023, “OPORA in Poland” Foundation had the honor of welcoming David Cameron, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, at the Center for Assistance in War Crimes Documentation. “OPORA in Poland” Foundation was established in Warsaw following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine to collect data on war crimes committed by Russia. The British government is consistent in their support for justice and Russia’s accountability for war crimes commited in Ukraine, as well as condemning the crime of aggression.

The Center for Assistance in War Crimes Documentation is a safe space arranged by the Civil Network OPORA in Warsaw. Here, Ukrainian people who have witnessed or been victims of Russian war crimes can share their stories to make sure that international courts bring the perpetrators to justice in the future.

The UK government has announced funding to support the documentation, investigation and prosecution of war crimes in Ukraine.

29 listopada b.r. na zaproszenie Ambasady Brytyjskiej i Fundacji im. Kazimierza Pułaskiego miałam zaszczyt zaprezentować działalność naszego Centrum Pomocy w Dokumentowaniu Zbrodni Wojennych podczas konferencji "Sprawiedliwość dla Ukrainy", która odbyła się w Muzeum Historii Polski na terenie Cytadeli Warszawskiej. Nasze Centrum zostało otwarte w stolicy Polski we wrześniu ubiegłego roku z inicjatywy Sieci Obywatelskiej OPORA. 

UK’s Minister for Security Tom Tugendhat with a delegation of British diplomats attended the Center for Assisting War Crimes Documentation in Warsaw, opened by the Civil Network OPORA.

The collection of preliminary interviews by lawyers and psychologists of the Center for the Documentation of War Crimes (hereinafter - the Center) began on September 12, 2022, and from that time until December 27, 656 preliminary interviews were collected. Witnesses and victims reported about 4487 war crimes. Interviews were collected directly at the Center premises (Marszalkowska 77/79) in Warsaw and during the visits of specialists (lawyers and psychologists) to the places of centralized re...

On February, 24, 2022, russia extended their armed aggression against Ukraine, which was unleashed in 2014 with the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol, and with the temporary occupation of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Unlike the previous stage of the international armed conflict (2014-2022), with the attack on February, 24, 2022, russia has already openly used their armed forces and other government and private paramilitary groups ...