Russian-run areas of Ukraine face water, heat and housing shortages and searches for the disloyal

Residents in Russian-controlled Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia report shortages of water, heat, power, housing and health care, and human rights groups and U.N. investigators report widespread detentions and reports of abuse.

Many people from parts of eastern and southern Ukraine now under Russian control have fled or live with limited services and new Russian administrative measures. Reports from residents, human rights groups and U.N. investigators describe shortages of water, heat, electricity, housing and medical care. Authorities in the occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions have implemented Russian passports, schooling and other systems, and Moscow has encouraged resettlement. Human rights groups say security services continue detaining people suspected of opposing the authorities. Key developments: - The four occupied regions are reported to have had about 3.5 million Russian passports issued by spring 2025, a step linked to access to services. - Residents and local sources report widespread shortages of water, heat, power, housing and health care, and damaged infrastructure in many cities. - Human rights organizations and Ukrainian officials report large numbers of detentions and filtering processes to identify those deemed disloyal. - Russian officials have acknowledged problems in the regions and announced a socioeconomic development program, while many residents have left and others remain under altered administrative control. Summary: The situation combines disrupted basic services and administrative changes with reports of detentions and pressure on residents, affecting daily life and mobility. Russian authorities have announced development plans for the regions, but the practical outcomes and any legal or procedural follow-ups are undetermined at this time.