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In 2025, the Russian occupation of Ukraine expanded significantly with approximately 4,300 square kilometers being captured. The occupation impacts numerous regions, including Sumy, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. As Russian forces maintain control over these territories, issues of human rights violations persist, highlighted by the UN's resolution condemning such actions. Ukrainian efforts to reclaim occupied territories and bring back displaced children continue, evidenced by the successful evacuation of multiple groups. The President's initiative, Bring Kids Back UA, plays a crucial role in these endeavors. Meanwhile, the geopolitical tensions rise as international bodies like the OSCE remain actively involved in mediation attempts to restore peace and resolve humanitarian issues in the occupied regions of Ukraine.

What is the current status of the Russian occupation in Ukraine?

The Russian occupation in Ukraine has expanded significantly in 2025, with over 4,300 square kilometers of territory under control. This occupation affects areas such as Sumy, Donetsk, and Kherson, with significant geopolitical and humanitarian implications, including widespread human rights violations and disrupted local governance.

How has the occupation affected human rights in Ukraine?

The occupation has led to numerous human rights violations, including forced seizures of property, restrictions on freedom of movement, and suppression of civil liberties. The UN General Assembly has adopted resolutions condemning these violations as it remains a significant concern affecting civilian populations in occupied regions.

What are the humanitarian efforts being made amidst the occupation?

Humanitarian efforts, particularly focusing on the evacuation of children and families from occupied regions, are ongoing. The Ukrainian President's initiative, Bring Kids Back UA, has successfully rescued numerous children from occupied territories, providing them with safety, medical care, and psychological support upon their return to Ukrainian-controlled areas.

How has the international community responded to the situation?

The international community, including bodies like the UN and OSCE, has responded with resolutions and calls for mediation to address human rights abuses and work towards a peaceful resolution. However, the geopolitical complexities and Russian military actions pose challenges to effective intervention.

What are the geopolitical consequences of the occupation?

The occupation exacerbates geopolitical tensions in the region, impacting Ukraine's sovereignty and regional stability. The ongoing conflict affects international relations, drawing responses from global entities and influencing diplomatic engagements focused on conflict resolution and peace efforts.

Are elections possible in the occupied territories of Ukraine?

According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, elections cannot proceed in territories occupied by Russia, as the occupation undermines democratic processes and local governance, creating an environment that lacks the necessary conditions for fair and free electoral practices.

What regions in Ukraine have come under occupation in 2025?

In 2025, multiple regions have come under occupation, notably Sumy, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Russian military advances in these areas have led to control over strategic locations, contributing to significant territorial changes in the ongoing conflict.

What impact has the occupation had on the economy in the affected regions?

The occupation severely impacts local economies as businesses cease operations and resources become scarce. Employment rates plummet, exacerbating economic instability and hardships for residents amid the ongoing conflict and territorial occupation by Russian forces.

How are the occupied territories being managed by Russian forces?

Russian forces implement strict control in occupied territories, with enforced seizure of properties and restrictions on civilian movements. Authorities have been given explicit rights by the Russian government to maintain this control until 2030, further complicating the return to normalcy for affected populations.

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News occupation

Cooling tower of ZNPP Prolonged blackout at ZNPP could lead to Fukushima scenario - Guardian Due to the absence of external power for more than 72 hours, emergency generators at Zaporizhzhia NPP are operating at maximum capacity. Uncontrolled heating of the reactors is possible, comparable to the Fukushima scenario. 2 438 15 Previously in trend: Russia’s occupation of ZNPP power fluctuations at nuclear power plants

Return from occupation Three more young men brought back from Russian-occupied territories. PHOTO Three more young people aged 18, 19, and 20 have been rescued from Russian-occupied territories as part of President of Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative. 612 3 Previously in trend: Return from occupation

Zaporizhzhia NPP suffers another blackout Blackout at ZNPP: this is tenth during Russian occupation On Tuesday, September 23, the tenth blackout occurred at Zaporizhzhia NPP since the beginning of the Russian occupation of the plant. 793 6 Previously in trend: Russia’s occupation of ZNPP

The UN says the war that Russia started against Ukraine must end with respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity UN: Ill-treatment of civilians in Russian-occupied territories reflects ’worrying trend’ The United Nations Human Rights Office has released a report on the ill-treatment of civilians detained in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. 880 4 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas Torture during the occupation

Return of children from occupation Three Ukrainian teenagers brought back from Russian-occupied territories. PHOTO Three more Ukrainian teenagers have been rescued from temporarily occupied territories under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative. 765 4 Previously in trend: Return from occupation

children Another group of children returned from occupied territories of Kherson region – RMA Another group of children from the temporarily occupied Kherson region has returned to Ukraine-controlled territory. 540 1 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

Mariupol Russians prepare Mariupol as hub for offensives: build bypass road for equipment, cargo and military convoys. PHOTOS Russian occupiers are preparing Mariupol as a hub for new offensives: a bypass road is being built outside the city for equipment, cargo, and military convoys. 4 327 17 Previously in trend: Occupation of Mariupol

16 children were returned from the occupation 16 children returned from Russian occupation: relatives of one of girls were sentenced to many years in penal colony Another 16 Ukrainian children were returned from the occupation to the territory controlled by Ukraine. 643 0 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation Return from occupation

Conscription in TOT Occupiers preparing new "draft" into Russian army in TOT: issuing summonses en masse at checkpoints, - NRC The occupation administrations are preparing another conscription of residents of the temporarily occupied territories into the Russian army. 2 915 26 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

16 children returned from Russian-occupied territories Ukraine brings back 16 more children from occupation Ukraine has managed to bring back another 16 children from Russian-occupied territories. This was carried out under the Bring Kids Back UA initiative.  424 1 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

International observers report significant violations in Georgia’s parliamentary elections MFA: "Russia’s organization of ’elections’ in TOT of Ukraine is illegal, and their results are null and void" On September 14, Russia held the so-called "single voting day", during which an imitation of the electoral process took place in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine - in Crimea and Sevastopol. 889 1 Previously in trend: Russian election on TOT of Ukraine

children, return 14-year-old girl brought back from TOT after more than three years under occupation. PHOTO As part of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, a 14-year-old girl who had been separated from her mother for more than three and a half years has been returned to Ukrainian-controlled territory. 1 888 6 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

Former Kherson mayor Mykolaienko called the occupation of the city in 2022 a betrayal Former Kherson mayor Mykolaienko on occupation of city in 2022: I am convinced that it was betrayal. VIDEO Former Kherson mayor Volodymyr Mykolaienko, who spent 3 years in Russian captivity, believes that the fast occupation of the city by Russian troops in 2022 is the result of betrayal. 77 429 158 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

Czech Senate Czech Senate Adopts Resolution on Forced Assimilation of Ukrainians in Temporarily Occupied Territories. PHOTOS The Senate of the Czech Republic has adopted a resolution on the systematic crimes committed by Russian occupation forces against the Ukrainian population in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including forced passportization and Russification aimed at the violent assimilation of Ukrainians. 1 389 6 Previously in trend: Forced assimilation of Ukrainians

17-year-old teenager brought back from Russian-occupied territory Kept under constant watch by Russian troops: 17-year-old brought back from Russian-occupied territory Another 17-year-old teenager has been evacuated from Russian-occupied territory under President Zelenskyy’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative. 695 1 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation Return from occupation

children Two groups of Ukrainian children returned from temporarily occupied territories. PHOTO As part of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, two groups of children and young people have been returned from temporarily occupied territories. 947 2 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

Russian passport under occupation Does Ukrainian citizenship remain? Ukrainians who received Russian passports in TOT remain citizens of Ukraine, - Head of SMS Naumenko Ukraine does not recognize the forced passportization carried out by Russia in the occupied territories. This is stated in the law. 8 996 1 Previously in trend: Passportization in the TOT Forced passportization of Ukrainians

Return of children from occupation Three Ukrainian children and young man were returned from Russian Federation. PHOTO Three more children and a young man have been returned to Ukraine as part of the initiative of the President of Ukraine, Bring Kids Back UA. 1 153 9 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

Trump compared the size of Crimea to Texas What is known Trump compared Crimea to Texas: If I gave up this land, I would be on front page The US president made a statement about occupied Crimea, noting that it is similar in size to Texas. 18 140 74 Previously in trend: Occupation of Crimea

12 children returned from Russian occupation Another 12 children were returned from occupied territories: Some of them witnessed torture of relatives Another 12 Ukrainian children have been returned from territories temporarily occupied by Russia. 709 2 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation Return from occupation

Child returned from Russian occupation What is known 14-year-old daughter of fallen Ukrainian defender returned from occupied territories. PHOTO A 14-year-old girl, whom Russians planned to send to a boarding school in Russia, was returned from the temporarily occupied territories. 2 222 4 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation Return from occupation

Russia to cut off internet access in temporarily occupied territories Russia prepares internet shutdown in temporarily occupied territories – FIS The Russian occupation administration has begun informing the local population of temporarily occupied Crimea about a complete shutdown of mobile internet. 2 653 30 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

Three children returned from Russia and TOT What is known Two teenagers and 8-year-old girl were returned from temporarily occupied territories and Russia. PHOTOS Three more Ukrainian children have been returned from the temporarily occupied territories and from Russia. 1 104 4 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation Return from occupation

children, return Teenager who spent three years under occupation successfully returned to Ukraine Within the framework of the Ukrainian President’s initiative Bring Kids Back UA, a teenager who spent over three years under occupation was rescued. 1 089 3 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

African ambassadors visit occupied Crimea Response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Ambassadors of three African countries arrived in occupied Crimea: Foreign Ministry condemns visit Ambassadors of three African countries - Chad, Guinea and Burundi - visited the occupied Crimea. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemned the visit. 2 419 23 Previously in trend: African ambassadors visit occupied Crimea

children of war Teenage girl from Mariupol returned from Russia to Ukraine As part of the initiative of the President of Ukraine Bring Kids Back UA, another Ukrainian teenage girl was returned from the territory of the Russian Federation. 4 750 12 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

transfer of Russian equipment Occupiers move equipment to Novopavlivka and Pokrovsk directions – Andriushchenko. PHOTOS On Friday, July 25, Russian equipment movements were recorded on the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk region, heading toward the Pokrovsk and Novopavlivka directions. 2 928 1 Previously in trend: Hostilities in the Novopavlivka direction Combat operations in the Pokrovsk direction

Return of children from occupation Another group of children brought back from Russian-occupied territories Another group of children has been brought back from the temporarily occupied territories as part of President Zelenskyy’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative. 620 0 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

11 children returned to Ukraine Another 11 children returned from temporarily occupied territories and Russia As part of the initiative of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Bring Kids Back UA, 11 Ukrainian children were returned from the temporarily occupied territories and the Russian Federation. Their ages range from 10 to 17 years old. 883 2 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

A group of children returned from occupation Group of children rescued from Russian-occupied territories Another group of children has been rescued from temporarily occupied territories as part of Ukrainian President’s initiative Bring Kids Back UA. 668 2 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

Russian captain Solovov sentenced to 12 years He held 369 civilians hostage during occupation of Chernihiv region: Russian captain Solovov sentenced in absentia to 12 years. PHOTO Another ruscist who committed war crimes during the occupation of part of the Chernihiv region was sentenced to 12 years in prison in absentia. 1 176 3 Previously in trend: War crimes of Russia

Russians have occupied Lobkove Russians have occupied Lobkove and Piddubne, - DeepState. MAP Russian troops captured Lobkove in Zaporizhzhia region and Piddubne in Donetsk region. 10 331 37 Previously in trend: Update of DeepState map

Russians have occupied two settlements in the Kharkiv region Russians have occupied Milove and Stroivka in Kharkiv region, - DeepState. MAP Russian troops managed to occupy two settlements in the Kharkiv region. 6 882 21 Previously in trend: Update of DeepState map

Dmytro Lubinets Since beginning of full-scale war, Ukraine has returned 5757 adults and 1378 children from Russia, - Lubinets Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, 65 exchanges have taken place between Ukraine and Russia, during which 5757 Ukrainians have been returned, 294 of whom are civilian hostages of the Russian Federation. 323 2 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation Rescuing soldiers from captivity

CNR Enemy has intensified checks in occupied territories after Ukrainian Armed Forces’ strikes on Russian Federation - Center of National Resistance After successful attacks by the Defense Forces on enemy targets, the Russian occupiers have significantly intensified the so-called "counter-sabotage" measures in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. 624 1 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

DeepState on enemy advances in June In June, enemy occupied 556 sq km of Ukrainian territory, worst figure in 2025 – DeepState. INFOGRAPHICS In June, Russian forces occupied 556 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory. The pace observed in May continued into the last month. 3 231 32 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas Russian advance

Two teenagers returned from occupation Two teenagers successfully brought back from Russian-occupied territories Two more teenagers have been rescued from temporarily occupied territory as part of the President of Ukraine’s initiative Bring Kids Back UA. 453 1 Previously in trend: Return from occupation

Russian forces have occupied Novosilka, Zaporizhzhia, and Odradne in the Donetsk region Ruscists occupy Novosilka, Zaporizhzhia, and Odradne in Donetsk region – DeepState. MAPS Russian forces occupy three settlements in the Volnovakha district of the Donetsk region 3 367 12 Previously in trend: Updated DeepState maps

The young man was returned to Ukraine 17-year-old boy returned from Russia to Ukraine: he is now with his family. PHOTO As part of the President of Ukraine's Bring Kids Back UA initiative, a 17-year-old boy who was separated from his family by the war back in 2022 was returned. 1 950 1 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

Why did the Russians reach Mariupol so quickly? Svyatoslav Palamar’s answer Russians quickly reached Mariupol because they did not meet proper resistance - Deputy Commander of Azov Palamar The Russian occupation forces did not meet with adequate resistance, so they were able to quickly reach Mariupol at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. 4 855 49 Previously in trend: Occupation of Mariupol

Handing over a microwave oven to the father of a killed occupier Representative of occupying authorities in Skadovsk presented father of Russian soldier who was killed in action with microwave oven: "Thank you for your son". VIDEO A video was posted online showing a representative of the Russian occupation administration of Skadovsk in the Kherson region handing a microwave to one of the city's residents. 7 908 85 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

money Occupiers raise tariffs in Luhansk region and threaten to "nationalize" housing in Svatove - RMA On July 1, utility tariffs will rise again in the temporarily occupied Luhansk region, and in Svatove, the occupiers threaten to "nationalize" the homes of those who left the occupied territories. 1 421 3 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

children, returning Two teenage girls were returned from occupation We managed to return two more girls from the territories temporarily occupied by Russia - they are 16 and 17 years old. 1 495 1 Previously in trend: Return from occupation

Forced passportisation of the Russian Federation Occupiers create military camps for girls in TOT, - National Resistance Centre The Russians want to create specialised camps for girls in the TOT of Ukraine, where they will be taught tactical medicine and drone control. 1 560 8 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

salary, money, payments, pension Ukraine to provide UAH 50 thousand to children returning from occupation or deportation - Ministry of Social Policy The state will provide a one-time financial assistance of UAH 50,000 to each child who returns from the temporarily occupied territories or has been deported or forcibly displaced. 877 20 Previously in trend: Payments to children

Russians occupied two more villages in Sumy region Russians have occupied Andriivka and Vodolahy in Sumy region, - DeepState. MAP Russians managed to occupy two more villages in Sumy region. 12 402 34 Previously in trend: Update of DeepState map

Russians have occupied Volodymyrivka Russians have occupied Volodymyrivka in Sumy region - DeepState On 31 May, Russian troops occupied Volodymyrivka, Sumy region. 14 212 64 Previously in trend: The Russian offensive on the Sumy region Fighting in Sumy region

Another 15 children returned from Russian occupation Another 11 children were returned from Russian-occupied territories As part of the initiative of the President of Ukraine Bring Kids Back UA, 11 more Ukrainian children have been brought home from the territories temporarily occupied by Russia. 513 6 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation