Latest news with #UkraineConflictObservatory
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Putin signs decree easing Russian citizenship process for residents of occupied Abkhazia, South Ossetia
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree simplifying the process for residents of Georgia's Russian-occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to obtain Russian citizenship, Russian state-controlled media reported on May 17. According to the decree, all adult "citizens" of Abkhazia and South Ossetia who held that status as of Aug. 26, 2008, the day Russia recognized the territories as "independent," are now eligible to apply for Russian citizenship through an expedited process. Applicants are required only to submit a formal request for citizenship. Moscow gained full control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia following its 2008 invasion of Georgia and has since maintained a military presence in both regions. Russia has employed similar tactics in Ukraine. In August 2024, Russia's Interior Ministry claimed it had issued 2.2 million Russian passports to residents of the occupied Ukrainian territories — Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk — since October 2022. The figure was published by ministry official Irina Volk on her Telegram channel. The claim could not be independently verified. The U.S.-based Ukraine Conflict Observatory reported in 2023 that Russia systematically coerces residents of occupied Ukrainian regions into accepting Russian citizenship, often under threat of detention, deportation, or the loss of access to basic services. Refusal to accept Russian documentation has reportedly resulted in the denial of medical care, employment, humanitarian aid, and other critical support. During the massive flooding of the Kherson Oblast following the breach of the Kakhovka Dam, Russia allowed evacuations only to Russian passport holders, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported. Putin first introduced a simplified citizenship process for Ukrainians in occupied territories in July 2022. In April 2023, he signed another decree setting a deadline in the summer of 2024 for residents in those areas to obtain Russian passports or face legal and civil consequences. Read also: Russia grants citizenship to over 3,300 foreigners under Putin's military decree We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
CNN
29-03-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Trump admin temporarily restores funding to initiative tracking Russian war crimes
The Trump administration has temporarily restored funding to an initiative that tracks alleged Russian war crimes after cutting its assistance, according to a congressional source familiar with the matter. Funding for the Ukraine Conflict Observatory has been restored for six weeks, the source told CNN. This will allow the repository of evidence on the alleged Russian war crimes, including the locations of more than 30,000 abducted Ukrainian children, to be sent to the European Union's law enforcement agency, Europol. CNN reported last week the funding had been terminated and that researchers had lost access to the major database of evidence. The State Department said last week it had cut funding to the program 'based on the assessments that we've been making …what was in America's interests.' The temporary policy reversal, first reported by the Washington Post, comes after congressional concern about the administration's decision to end funding to the initiative. The contract supporting the Ukraine Conflict Observatory was among thousands of foreign aid awards that the administration has terminated. Critics have argued that terminations have been done with no clear criteria and little regard for the consequences. 'Funding is being provided for a short period while the Conflict Observatory implementers ensure the proper transfer of the critical data on the children to the appropriate authorities,' a State Department spokesperson said in statement Thursday. 'It is part of the standard close out procedures for terminated programs.' MITRE, a non-profit organization involved in the Ukraine Conflict Observatory, said in a statement Thursday that their group, 'the Department of State, and related partners have initiated a plan that enables data preservation and transfer.' 'While MITRE continues to work in the public interest and remains focused on our federal sponsors' most critical missions, our efforts related to this important topic will conclude once the data is with the U.S. government,' the statement said. The evidence collected by the Ukraine Conflict Observatory had been used in efforts to prosecute Russian officials for their alleged involvement in war crimes, including the International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to a letter from House lawmakers last week, Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) – which had been conducting research for the Ukraine Conflict Observatory – 'compiled three reports, sourced from satellite imagery and biometric data, tracking identities and locations of over 30,000 children from Ukraine at dozens of locations.' 'This data is absolutely crucial to Ukraine's efforts to return their children home,' the lawmakers said in the letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The importance of returning 'the forcibly transferred Ukrainian children' was a key topic in the meeting between top US and Ukrainian officials in Jeddah earlier this month, according to a joint statement after the meeting. In a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, President Donald Trump asked 'about the children who had gone missing from Ukraine during the war, including the ones that had been abducted,' according to a statement about the call. 'President Trump promised to work closely with both parties to help make sure those children were returned home.' Last week's letter, led by Ohio Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman, noted that the evidence was being preserved 'to be shared with Europol and the government of Ukraine to secure their return.' 'Yale HRL's funding has been terminated, and the status of the secure evidence repository is unknown. This vital resource cannot be lost,' it said. This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN
28-03-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Trump admin temporarily restores funding to initiative tracking Russian war crimes
The Trump administration has temporarily restored funding to an initiative that tracks alleged Russian war crimes after cutting its assistance, according to a congressional source familiar with the matter. Funding for the Ukraine Conflict Observatory has been restored for six weeks, the source told CNN. This will allow the repository of evidence on the alleged Russian war crimes, including the locations of more than 30,000 abducted Ukrainian children, to be sent to the European Union's law enforcement agency, Europol. CNN reported last week the funding had been terminated and that researchers had lost access to the major database of evidence. The State Department said last week it had cut funding to the program 'based on the assessments that we've been making …what was in America's interests.' The temporary policy reversal, first reported by the Washington Post, comes after congressional concern about the administration's decision to end funding to the initiative. The contract supporting the Ukraine Conflict Observatory was among thousands of foreign aid awards that the administration has terminated. Critics have argued that terminations have been done with no clear criteria and little regard for the consequences. 'Funding is being provided for a short period while the Conflict Observatory implementers ensure the proper transfer of the critical data on the children to the appropriate authorities,' a State Department spokesperson said in statement Thursday. 'It is part of the standard close out procedures for terminated programs.' MITRE, a non-profit organization involved in the Ukraine Conflict Observatory, said in a statement Thursday that their group, 'the Department of State, and related partners have initiated a plan that enables data preservation and transfer.' 'While MITRE continues to work in the public interest and remains focused on our federal sponsors' most critical missions, our efforts related to this important topic will conclude once the data is with the U.S. government,' the statement said. The evidence collected by the Ukraine Conflict Observatory had been used in efforts to prosecute Russian officials for their alleged involvement in war crimes, including the International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to a letter from House lawmakers last week, Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) – which had been conducting research for the Ukraine Conflict Observatory – 'compiled three reports, sourced from satellite imagery and biometric data, tracking identities and locations of over 30,000 children from Ukraine at dozens of locations.' 'This data is absolutely crucial to Ukraine's efforts to return their children home,' the lawmakers said in the letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The importance of returning 'the forcibly transferred Ukrainian children' was a key topic in the meeting between top US and Ukrainian officials in Jeddah earlier this month, according to a joint statement after the meeting. In a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, President Donald Trump asked 'about the children who had gone missing from Ukraine during the war, including the ones that had been abducted,' according to a statement about the call. 'President Trump promised to work closely with both parties to help make sure those children were returned home.' Last week's letter, led by Ohio Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman, noted that the evidence was being preserved 'to be shared with Europol and the government of Ukraine to secure their return.' 'Yale HRL's funding has been terminated, and the status of the secure evidence repository is unknown. This vital resource cannot be lost,' it said. This story has been updated with additional information.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump admin temporarily restores funding to initiative tracking Russian war crimes
The Trump administration has temporarily restored funding to an initiative that tracks alleged Russian war crimes after cutting its assistance, according to a congressional source familiar with the matter. Funding for the Ukraine Conflict Observatory has been restored for six weeks, the source told CNN. This will allow the repository of evidence on the alleged Russian war crimes, including the locations of more than 30,000 abducted Ukrainian children, to be sent to the European Union's law enforcement agency, Europol. CNN reported last week the funding had been terminated and that researchers had lost access to the major database of evidence. The State Department said last week it had cut funding to the program 'based on the assessments that we've been making …what was in America's interests.' The temporary policy reversal, first reported by the Washington Post, comes after congressional concern about the administration's decision to end funding to the initiative. The contract supporting the Ukraine Conflict Observatory was among thousands of foreign aid awards that the administration has terminated. Critics have argued that terminations have been done with no clear criteria and little regard for the consequences. 'Funding is being provided for a short period while the Conflict Observatory implementers ensure the proper transfer of the critical data on the children to the appropriate authorities,' a State Department spokesperson said in statement Thursday. 'It is part of the standard close out procedures for terminated programs.' MITRE, a non-profit organization involved in the Ukraine Conflict Observatory, said in a statement Thursday that they, 'the Department of State, and related partners have initiated a plan that enables the data to be moved from the contract partner to the U.S. government.' 'While MITRE continues to work in the public interest and remains focused on our federal sponsors' most critical missions, our efforts related to this important topic will conclude once the data is with the U.S. government,' the statement said. The evidence collected by the Ukraine Conflict Observatory had been used in efforts to prosecute Russian officials for their alleged involvement in war crimes, including the International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to a letter from House lawmakers last week, Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) – which had been conducting research for the Ukraine Conflict Observatory – 'compiled three reports, sourced from satellite imagery and biometric data, tracking identities and locations of over 30,000 children from Ukraine at dozens of locations.' 'This data is absolutely crucial to Ukraine's efforts to return their children home,' the lawmakers said in the letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The importance of returning 'the forcibly transferred Ukrainian children' was a key topic in the meeting between top US and Ukrainian officials in Jeddah earlier this month, according to a joint statement after the meeting. In a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, President Donald Trump asked 'about the children who had gone missing from Ukraine during the war, including the ones that had been abducted,' according to a statement about the call. 'President Trump promised to work closely with both parties to help make sure those children were returned home.' Last week's letter, led by Ohio Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman, noted that the evidence was being preserved 'to be shared with Europol and the government of Ukraine to secure their return.' 'Yale HRL's funding has been terminated, and the status of the secure evidence repository is unknown. This vital resource cannot be lost,' it said.
CNN
28-03-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Trump admin temporarily restores funding to initiative tracking Russian war crimes
The Trump administration has temporarily restored funding to an initiative that tracks alleged Russian war crimes after cutting its assistance, according to a congressional source familiar with the matter. Funding for the Ukraine Conflict Observatory has been restored for six weeks, the source told CNN. This will allow the repository of evidence on the alleged Russian war crimes, including the locations of more than 30,000 abducted Ukrainian children, to be sent to the European Union's law enforcement agency, Europol. CNN reported last week the funding had been terminated and that researchers had lost access to the major database of evidence. The State Department said last week it had cut funding to the program 'based on the assessments that we've been making …what was in America's interests.' The temporary policy reversal, first reported by the Washington Post, comes after congressional concern about the administration's decision to end funding to the initiative. The contract supporting the Ukraine Conflict Observatory was among thousands of foreign aid awards that the administration has terminated. Critics have argued that terminations have been done with no clear criteria and little regard for the consequences. 'Funding is being provided for a short period while the Conflict Observatory implementers ensure the proper transfer of the critical data on the children to the appropriate authorities,' a State Department spokesperson said in statement Thursday. 'It is part of the standard close out procedures for terminated programs.' MITRE, a non-profit organization involved in the Ukraine Conflict Observatory, said in a statement Thursday that they, 'the Department of State, and related partners have initiated a plan that enables the data to be moved from the contract partner to the U.S. government.' 'While MITRE continues to work in the public interest and remains focused on our federal sponsors' most critical missions, our efforts related to this important topic will conclude once the data is with the U.S. government,' the statement said. The evidence collected by the Ukraine Conflict Observatory had been used in efforts to prosecute Russian officials for their alleged involvement in war crimes, including the International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to a letter from House lawmakers last week, Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) – which had been conducting research for the Ukraine Conflict Observatory – 'compiled three reports, sourced from satellite imagery and biometric data, tracking identities and locations of over 30,000 children from Ukraine at dozens of locations.' 'This data is absolutely crucial to Ukraine's efforts to return their children home,' the lawmakers said in the letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The importance of returning 'the forcibly transferred Ukrainian children' was a key topic in the meeting between top US and Ukrainian officials in Jeddah earlier this month, according to a joint statement after the meeting. In a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, President Donald Trump asked 'about the children who had gone missing from Ukraine during the war, including the ones that had been abducted,' according to a statement about the call. 'President Trump promised to work closely with both parties to help make sure those children were returned home.' Last week's letter, led by Ohio Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman, noted that the evidence was being preserved 'to be shared with Europol and the government of Ukraine to secure their return.' 'Yale HRL's funding has been terminated, and the status of the secure evidence repository is unknown. This vital resource cannot be lost,' it said.
