Human Rights Watch recently raised alarms over Russia’s actions in occupied Ukrainian territories, where authorities have been unlawfully seizing civilian properties. This move stands in violation of international law, which forbids the confiscation of private property unless justified by military necessity. In its report, the rights group detailed an analysis of approximately 8,000 cases of property seizures carried out between March 2024 and January 2026. Russian courts have consistently ignored evidence of ownership, significantly affecting millions of displaced Ukrainians who find themselves without shelter, income, or a means to sustain their lives.
The situation complicates the prospect of refugees and internally displaced individuals returning home safely and with dignity. Yulia Gorbunova, HRW’s Associate Ukraine Director, emphasized that millions of Ukrainians are being forced out of their homes as Russia disregards its obligations under international law. The introduction of an unlawful administrative process in 2022 requires Ukrainian property owners in occupied territories to reregister their properties under Russian law by a moved-forward deadline of July 2026. The failure to comply with this process results in properties being deemed “ownerless” and subsequently transferred to municipal ownership.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has unilaterally annexed the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, instituting its own administrative and legal frameworks. This annexation is considered unlawful under international law. Furthermore, authorities have used passportization as a tool of administrative control, tying essential services such as phone communication to Russian citizenship. This policy aims to force allegiance to Russia and erase Ukrainian identity, with resistance leading to administrative removal orders and forced expulsions.
The actions taken by Russia contravene Article 51 of Customary International Humanitarian Law, prohibiting the confiscation of private property without military necessity. The Hague Convention also provides similar prohibitions. As highlighted by Human Rights Watch, the broader implications of these actions severely impact the rights and livelihoods of Ukrainians in these territories.
Additional insights from the BBC confirm the systemic nature of these seizures and the broader efforts to assert Russian control over Ukrainian regions. Strategic policy specialist Maksym Beznosiuk argues that Moscow’s objective is to cement pro-Russian sentiments while removing traces of Ukrainian identity, further complicating the lives of those refusing to comply with the imposed regulations.