In the occupied territories, in particular in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, the Russian occupiers continue to appropriate housing of the residents who left. The invaders call such actions "nationalization".
What is actually happening with housing at temporarily occupied territories read in the TRYBUN publication`s material.
In the spring of 2024, a so-called "law" legalizing the confiscation of property that is considered to be "ownerless" was passed on the captured territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
Owners of residential or other apartments must appear at the "administration" with documents confirming the right of ownership within 30 days after the publication of the list of apartments. If the owners do not appear, it will become the property of the occupying group.
The Sievierodonetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol and other region`s settlements fake "administrations" publish a list of apartments that "have signs of ownerless" almost every day.
The TRYBUN correspondent had spoken on this topic with the coordinator of the human rights organization "Donbas SOS" Violeta Artemchuk.
"Of course, it is difficult to comment the true intentions of the occupiers. But, in my opinion, "nationalization" hardly refers to the return of a large number of people to temporarily occupied territories. After all, the entry of Ukrainian citizens into the Russian Federation without a Russian passport is now extremely difficult - only through Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, where strict filtering and interrogations take place. If they wanted to return people, there would be no situations when, at best, 20-30 out of 120 people are allowed into the territory of the Russian Federation," said Ms. Artemchuk.
According to her story, it is not about returning or even about "taken away by force" as much housing as possible.
"Who should be settled there? I have not heard about the housing crisis in the occupation. I believe that the goal is to intimidate, to show "who is the boss here", and also to put moral pressure on those who left. I know that people are very, very worried about their apartments. Most cannot go back. It is a colossal pressure. This is such a psychological special operation to destabilize us. According to my observations it is a rather successful special operation," continued the coordinator of the NGO "Donbas SOS".
So, according to occupation resources, only those objects for which utility services are not paid, are subject to the so-called "nationalization". But in practice, they take away housing that was looked after by relatives or neighbors of those who left, even if there is a paid utility bill.
"We know about such cases. Neighbors look after the house, utility bills are paid, but at the same time, representatives of local "administrations" in the occupied territories came to the neighbors, asked about the owners, and said they knew about their departure. Neighbors were warned: if the owner does not appear within a month, the apartment will be entered into the "register of ownerless property" with subsequent "nationalization". This is not about the utility bills, but about the fact of property re-registration according to the laws of Russia," said Ms. Violeta.
In May of this year, human rights defenders of the organization were most often asked about the "taken away with force" of housing on temporarily occupied territories.
"Donetsk. People left in 2015 and all the time lived in the controlled by Ukraine territory. The apartment was rented out. Representatives of pseudo-administrations have repeatedly visited the renters. They asked where the owners were and when they would appear for re-registration of the apartment according to the legislation of the Russian Federation. In general, all appeals are quite typical and the same - people ask what to do. In addition, some are already interested in the way to enter the temporarily occupied territory (it means, they decide to go). We are trying to convince everyone out of it, because it is a big risk," Violeta Artemchuk said.
According to Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, people who move into housing illegally confiscated from Ukrainian citizens during the occupation will be held criminal responsibility and in the future will compensate the legal owners of the property for damages.
Ms. Artemchuk noted that currently such a law has not been adopted and there is not even a draft.
"Criminal responsibility awaits those who contribute to illegal "nationalization". What is regarding those who move in, in my opinion, is a very delicate point. If, for example, a large family (or people with disabilities), whose house was damaged by shelling in Donetsk or Luhansk was moved into a "taken away with force" apartment. Yes, the apartment is "taken away with force ". But those who moved in are citizens of Ukraine (even though they may have passports of the Russian Federation). Bring them to justice? It is hardly, in my opinion. About the expediency of the law - I think that it is expedient. It`s to demonstrate the attitude of the state of Ukraine to those who "nationalized" property. As for efficiency, there is a delayed process in which it can become effective. The law is needed, in my opinion, that's for sure," the coordinator of Donbas SOS emphasized.
According to the TRYBUN publication`s sources, the occupiers not only publish lists on their online resources, but also post announcements about the need to reissue property rights in the Russian manner on apartments, entrances and private houses.
"In my village, they want to "take away with force" the house of a wealthy local farmer who has left. They wrote on the gate that you need to come and reissue the documents by a certain date," the source said.
"Nationalization" is another illegal process in the temporarily occupied territories, designed to intimidate Ukrainians, which once again proves that Russia does not need our people.
