Vishchyk Maksym. Occupation of minds: IHL response to Russian education policies in the occupied Ukrainian territories
Into the eighth month of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia has rushed to implement its plan to annex and assimilate newly occupied southern-eastern regions of Ukraine via sham referenda and attempted absorption of territories through respective domestic laws. The areas in question include parts of the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk regions (e.g., the latest map of Russian-controlled areas here), where Russia established its military presence after 24 February 2022, replaced Ukrainian government without consent of the latter and is in place to exercise its authority. For instance, Russia assumed law enforcement functions, started issuing Russian-type passports and other documents, blocked access to Ukrainian TV and Internet, gained control over the local financial and social care systems, public communications, infrastructure, etc.
