Training Specialists in Penitentiary Psychology
Russia has launched a program to train specialists in penitentiary psychology for deployment in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. This initiative is being conducted at the Academy of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation (FSIN) with the involvement of Russian scientific centers. According to Ukraine's National Resistance Center (NRC), Russian special services are behind these programs. The primary objective of the training is to implement new methods of manipulative influence on detained individuals. This development is part of a broader pattern of Russia establishing its administrative and security structures in occupied areas.
Issues in the Temporarily Occupied Territories
In the temporarily occupied parts of Donetsk Oblast, there has been a reported increase in cases of sexual violence against minors, committed by Russian military and security personnel. This alarming trend has drawn concern from human rights defenders and the international community. The NRC has obtained internal documentation from the so-called 'ministry of education' of the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), which reveals that educational institutions are being mandated to compile closed registries of teenagers who have become victims of sexual crimes or have attempted suicide during the 2024-2025 period.
Separately, a new wave of forceful raids has been documented in the temporarily occupied territories of Kherson Oblast. Occupation units have intensified checks and detentions of residents in settlements including:
- Henichesk
- Skadovsk
- Nova Kakhovka
- others
These actions are causing growing anxiety among the local population, who face escalating repression.
The implementation of these specialist training programs indicates Russia's intent to strengthen its control and manipulative influence over the population in occupied territories, which could have long-term consequences for human rights. The parallel rise in violence and repression underscores the severity of the situation facing local residents and highlights the need for sustained international attention and support. Human rights defenders and international organizations may encounter new challenges in their work as conditions continue to deteriorate in the occupied parts of Ukraine.
As the situation in the occupied regions of Ukraine continues to deteriorate, the alarming rise in reported incidents of sexual violence against minors highlights the urgent need for international attention. In particular, recent developments in child sexual assault cases in occupied Donbas reveal a troubling pattern that underscores the broader implications of Russia's actions in these territories.