The US State Department called on the Russian Federation to immediately stop the practice of "filtration camps" for Ukrainians and forced deportations after the publication of an expert report, which once again documented such Russian practices in the occupied territories.

 This statement was made public by the State Department on August 25.

 The reason for the statement was the report of the Conflict Observatory expert group, which works with the support of the State Department, which documents evidence of Russia's organization of "filtration camps" for Ukrainians from the occupied territories and the forced removal of people from Ukraine to the territory of the Russian Federation.

 "Illegal removal and deportation of protected persons is a gross violation of the 4th Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Population and is a war crime. We once again call on the Russian Federation to immediately stop "filtering" and forced deportations and to grant access to independent external observers to established institutions and places of forced resettlement. the territory of Ukraine, which is controlled by the Russian Federation, and on the territory of Russia itself," the statement said.

 It mentions that in the latest report prepared by the Yale Laboratory for Humanitarian Studies, 21 places associated with "filtering" activities were documented in the territory of Donetsk region alone, and in general more and more credible reports and evidence are coming in from various sources about these practices.

 The aforementioned Conflict Observatory program also documents damage to health care and education facilities in the Luhansk region, and their partners Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative recorded more than 450 cases of damage to cultural heritage sites throughout Ukraine.

 The State Department notes that such work on verifying data and documentation of damages caused by Russia is necessary and notes that an additional $9 million will be allocated to the Conflict Observatory program.

 "This focus on prosecution lays the groundwork for further legal processes - in Ukraine, through international mechanisms, or in third countries that have established jurisdiction over the matter. President Putin and his government will not be able to continue to abuse impunity. Accountability is imperative, and the US together with partners, do not be silent. The people of Ukraine deserve justice and the United States will continue to support Ukrainians as much as it will take," the statement concluded.