From March 6 to 8, Deputy Permanent Representative Denys Chystikov took part in a roundtable discussion titled “Not to Lose a Second Time: Life, Memory, and the Future of the Temporarily Occupied Territories.”

The event, held in Lviv and organized by the Ukrainian Volunteer Service, focused on the current situation in the occupied territories and the challenges people face both while living under occupation and after their displacement. The discussion brought together human rights activists, journalists, government officials, volunteers, and young people who have fled the occupied regions.

In his remarks, Denys Chystikov outlined the primary challenges of living under occupation. He specifically highlighted the militarization of children, the total control of the information space, and systemic infrastructure failures, such as water shortages.

Mr. Chystikov also detailed how 12 years of Russian occupation have transformed the Crimean Peninsula. He cited grave human rights violations, including illegal detentions based on fabricated charges. He noted that as of February 2026, at least 284 Crimean residents are facing political persecution or targeted for their resistance to the occupation, more than half of whom are Crimean Tatars.

Furthermore, Denys Chystikov emphasized that every year without de-occupation adds a new layer of impact on people’s mindsets, the social fabric, and the region’s demographics. He stressed that it is vital not only to report on the situation in Crimea but to prioritize the human dimension—focusing on the people who remain there, support Ukraine, and continue to resist every day.