Russian-run areas of Ukraine face water, heat and housing woes

An estimated 3 million to 5 million people remain in Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine and face shortages of water, heat, housing and health care, officials and displaced residents say.

Russian-run areas of Ukraine continue to report shortages of basic services nearly four years after the 2022 invasion. About 20% of Ukrainian territory is under Moscow's control, and an estimated 3 million to 5 million people remain in those regions. Authorities in the occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions have implemented changes to citizenship and school curricula, according to reports. Known facts: - An estimated 3 million to 5 million people remain in Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine, which amount to about 20% of the country's territory. - Residents and displaced Ukrainians report shortages of water, heat, housing and access to health care. - Occupying authorities have extended citizenship policies and changed language and school materials, as reported by displaced residents and officials. - Human rights groups and Ukrainian officials report widespread detentions; the Ukrainian Human Rights Ombudsman cited about 16,000 illegally detained civilians, a figure that may be higher. Summary: The disruptions to services and municipal systems have affected daily life for many residents in the occupied areas, according to officials, displaced people and rights groups. The accounts in the report come from multiple sources and describe ongoing hardship. Undetermined at this time.