Scope of Ukrainian resistance in occupied territories revealed in new report • FRANCE 24 English

Key Concepts

• Russian Passports in Occupied Ukraine: Forced passportization of Ukrainian citizens in occupied territories.
• Resistance Movement: Active and passive resistance by Ukrainians within occupied regions.
• Abduction & Disappearances: Systematic abduction of Ukrainian civilians by Russian forces.
• Acts of Sabotage & Assassination: Violent resistance tactics employed against Russian occupation forces.
• Surveillance Technology (MAX App): Kremlin’s biometric data collection and surveillance application.
• Criminalization of Ukrainian Identity: Suppression of Ukrainian culture and identity as “extremism.”

Forced Passportization and the Context of Occupation

Following the occupation of Hersan, Zaparicia, Daetsk, and Luansk, Russia implemented a requirement in September for Ukrainian citizens residing in these regions to obtain Russian passports, or be classified as foreigners. This action represents a key element of Russia’s strategy to consolidate control and exert demographic and political influence over the occupied territories. The imposition of Russian citizenship is not presented as an option, but as a necessity for continued residency and access to basic services.

The Ukrainian Resistance: Scale and Tactics

Despite the immense risks, a significant resistance movement is operating within the occupied territories. Jade McGlin, a research fellow at King's College London, estimates that “thousands of Ukrainians are resisting inside the occupied regions both peacefully and with violence.” This resistance is largely clandestine, with only approximately 20% of actions becoming publicly known, according to McGlin’s sources.

The documented resistance activities, between December 2024 and October 2025, encompass a range of tactics: 248 incidents were recorded, including car bombings, sabotage targeting infrastructure, and at least 34 assassination attempts directed at Russian officials and collaborators. These actions demonstrate a determined effort to disrupt the occupation and undermine Russian authority.

Human Rights Violations: Abduction and Disappearances

The Russian occupation is characterized by severe human rights violations, most notably the systematic abduction of Ukrainian civilians. McGlin reports that 15,250 Ukrainian civilians have been abducted, with the vast majority disappearing – many believed to be held in unofficial detention facilities, referred to as “black sites.” This practice is a core component of the repressive environment and aims to instill fear and suppress dissent.

Technological Surveillance and Control: The MAX App

The Kremlin is employing advanced surveillance technology to monitor and control the population in occupied territories. A key tool in this effort is the “MAX” application. This app integrates banking, messaging, and public services, but crucially requires users to provide their biometric data. This data collection goes beyond simple surveillance, as McGlin explains: “It also makes it very clear that any expression of Ukrainian or pro-Ukrainian identity or sympathy in the occupied territory should be treated as extremism and indeed is treated as extremism.”

The MAX app effectively transforms everyday activities into potential evidence of disloyalty, enabling the Kremlin to identify and target individuals perceived as threats. This represents a significant escalation in the suppression of Ukrainian identity.

Criminalization of Ukrainian Identity & Communication

The Kremlin’s policy extends to actively suppressing Ukrainian culture and identity. Any display of Ukrainian affiliation or sympathy is now officially categorized as “extremism.” This policy severely restricts freedom of expression and creates a climate of fear, forcing Ukrainians to conceal their national identity to avoid persecution. Communication is also severely restricted, with much of social media blocked, forcing the resistance to rely on secure, but vulnerable, platforms like secret Telegram chats.

Logical Connections & Synthesis

The forced passportization is a foundational step in Russia’s attempt to annex and Russify the occupied territories. This policy is met with resistance, which is brutally suppressed through abductions and surveillance. The introduction of the MAX app exemplifies the Kremlin’s strategy of utilizing technology to control the population and criminalize Ukrainian identity. The limited visibility of resistance activities (only 20% publicly known) underscores the extreme risks faced by those opposing the occupation. The overall situation highlights a systematic effort to erase Ukrainian identity and integrate the occupied territories into Russia, met with a courageous, though perilous, resistance movement.