The below is attributable to Acting Spokesperson Shejal Pulivarti:
On September 15, Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman met with Olena Halushka, Ukrainian civil society leader and co-founder of the International Center for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV), and Yulia Paievska, military service woman, paramedic and survivor of Russian detention during the war. They discussed the evolving conditions in recently freed territories and priorities for supporting families of Ukrainian prisoners of war and detainees.
During the meeting, the group discussed challenges related to accounting for missing people, documenting evidence of war crimes, and reintegration of populations that lived for months under Russian occupation. Deputy Administrator Coleman asked about how USAID and other international donors can support affected populations and assist the Ukrainian government to reintegrate this liberated territory. She emphasized the importance of holding those responsible for war crimes in Ukraine accountable, and discussed a set of initiatives that seek to document and record the human rights abuses arising from Russia’s invasion and occupation of Ukrainian territory. The Deputy Administrator noted that USAID is especially concerned about the treatment of Ukrainians who have been detained and imprisoned by Russian authorities.
Deputy Administrator Coleman also reaffirmed USAID’s commitment to Ukraine’s long-term relief, recovery, and reconstruction.
Original source can be found here.
