Yevhenia Virlych, the editor-in-chief of Kavun.City, a publication based in Kherson, recently shared insights on Espreso TV regarding the ongoing challenges faced by residents in temporarily occupied territories. She highlighted the Russian authorities’ efforts to restrict communication among the local populace, noting that messaging applications are experiencing significant disruptions.
Communication Restrictions and Surveillance
Virlych emphasized that the Russians are not only hampering existing messaging platforms but are also actively promoting their own messaging application, which they are imposing on the residents. She pointed out that access to voice messages through conventional apps is severely limited. While she refrained from delving into specifics about the Russian messenger, she did mention alarming reports suggesting that this app has the capability to activate users’ cameras without consent, raising serious privacy concerns. This development indicates a broader strategy to monitor individuals’ movements, complicating communication for those in occupied areas.
Healthcare and Basic Needs
The journalist also addressed the dire state of medical services in these regions. According to Virlych, there is a critical shortage of medical centers and pharmacies, with reports indicating that the availability of medicines is alarmingly low. She noted that the Russian authorities are attempting to prepare for the upcoming school year through propaganda efforts, despite the pressing humanitarian issues at hand.
Furthermore, the aftermath of the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant has exacerbated the climate situation in the occupied territories. Virlych remarked that many communities are now facing severe water shortages, a problem that the occupying forces have failed to address effectively.
- On August 8, the National Resistance Center reported that residents in the occupied territories are being coerced into installing spyware that collects and transmits their data to Russian intelligence agencies.
- On the evening of August 19, a complete blackout was reported in the temporarily occupied regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
