In the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the occupying authorities plan to equip all public transport with video surveillance cameras. This concerns not only Crimea but also the seized areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions. The civil movement «Yellow Ribbon» reported this.
Activists note that the purpose of this initiative is to enhance control over the local population. According to their data, the corresponding decree has already been sent down to the occupying administrations of all occupied regions. The Kremlin allegedly ordered officials to determine where they can cut local budgets for the next year to redirect funds for the installation of surveillance systems.
What types of public transport will be equipped with video surveillance in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine
Not only municipal transport but also private carriers will come under the watchful eye of the occupiers. Plans include equipping even intercity shuttle taxis with cameras. This step, in the opinion of «Yellow Ribbon», is another stage in building a system of total surveillance over the residents of the temporarily occupied territories.
Activists emphasize that this project has nothing to do with the safety that Russian officials try to justify it with. It is about trying to track any signs of discontent, resistance, or even ordinary conversations in public spaces.
Crimea's experience with surveillance cameras in public transport
It is worth reminding that a similar surveillance system has already been in place in Crimea since 2019, when the occupiers installed cameras in major cities of the peninsula under the pretext of «fighting crime». Now, according to Ukrainian intelligence, these cameras are actively used to identify pro-Ukrainian activists and document «suspicious behavior» of citizens.
Thus, the Kremlin's plan to expand video surveillance across all occupied territories indicates a growing repressive control aimed at intimidating the local population and suppressing any resistance.
Earlier, we reported that students in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine are facing problems accessing free information due to new restrictions. Russian occupiers check children's phones for the presence of YouTube, Spotify, and VPN services to control their actions.