Almost 14,000 people have died in the east of Ukraine since the beginning of occupation – Denisova

Violations of the right to life and security in eastern Ukraine have already killed almost 14,000 Ukrainian citizens, including 4,000 civilians and 152 children among them. In addition, about 34,000 people were injured. 

This was announced on Facebook by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Lyudmyla Denisova, UA reports.

According to ombudsman, 121 Ukrainian citizens are currently held in prisons in the temporarily occupied Crimea and Russia on politically and religiously motivated charges. In particular, there are 86 Crimean Tatars among them. 71 people have already been sentenced to long terms.

“Disagreement with the actions of the occupant, the pro-Ukrainian political or civic position of our citizens becomes grounds for persecution and violation of the right to liberty and security of person” – Denisova wrote.

The ombudsman points out that 296 citizens of Ukraine are currently being held illegally in the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas. 252 are civilians, including 4 volunteers. 44 servicemen are also imprisoned.

To remind, during a meeting with US President Joe Biden Volodymyr Zelenskyy told that Ukraine has lost 15,000 its citizens due to armed conflict in the east of the country for the 8th year in a row. 

Read also: Denisova: new searches took place in the occupied Crimea, a former member of the Mejlis disappeared