Occupied Donbas Sees Rise in Child Sexual Assault, Prompting Secret Registries

Conditions in Occupied Areas of Donetsk Oblast

According to Главком: Internal documents from the so-called Ministry of Education of the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), dated 2024-2025, reveal a disturbing trend in occupied parts of Ukraine's Donetsk region. According to the National Resistance Center, which obtained the files, cases of sexual violence against minors, perpetrated by Russian military and security personnel, are increasing. The documents show that educational institutions were ordered to create confidential registries of teenagers who had become victims of sexual crimes or had attempted suicide.

Incidents of violence have been recorded in nearly every school across the occupied region, with data on the victims being concentrated within structures controlled by the occupation's prosecutor's office. This raises grave concerns for the safety and protection of children's rights in these territories, where international monitoring is severely restricted.

Situation in Kherson Oblast

Separately, in occupied Donetsk, a scheme has been established to confiscate private vehicles, especially pickups, jeeps, and other off-road models, for use by the Russian army. This has sparked protests among the local population, who face new restrictions and threats to their property.

A new wave of security force raids has also been documented in the temporarily occupied territories of Kherson Oblast. Checks and detentions of residents have intensified in settlements such as Henichesk, Skadovsk, Nova Kakhovka, and others. These actions highlight the escalating pressure on civilians in southern Ukraine, where residents find themselves under the control of occupation forces.

Consequently, the situation in the occupied territories of both Donetsk and Kherson oblasts remains extremely tense. The rise in violence against minors and the intensification of security raids point to severe challenges for safety and rule of law in the region.

These events point to serious human rights violations in the occupied territories of Ukraine, particularly concerning children who become victims of violence. The growing violence and repression by occupation forces could lead to further destabilization in the region. It is crucial for the international community to pay attention to these issues and take measures to protect the civilian population and ensure the rights of children.

The troubling situation in the occupied regions is further compounded by the financial strain on local industries, as many workers are facing delays in wage payments. This crisis adds to the hardships endured by residents, who are already grappling with the impacts of occupation. To understand how key sectors are affected by unpaid wages and the broader implications for the local economy, read more about the ongoing challenges in the affected areas here.