
Systems of Terror: An Inside Look at Life Under Russian Occupation
From The Transatlantic by Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
November 18, 2025 · 51 min · Season 2 · Episode 1
About this episode
Evgenia Chirikova discusses the treatment of Ukrainian civilians under Russian occupation and the need for accountability.
In the years since it launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has subjected thousands of Ukrainian civilians to tortuous treatment in prison camps across the occupied territories. In this season premiere of the U.S. Helsinki Commission's podcast "The Transatlantic" Russian human rights activist Evgenia Chirikova discusses her experience searching for answers about what happens to those Ukrainians trapped in this system of terror and outlines the type of accountability she believes is necessary to bring the perpetrators of this abuse to justice. Watch Evgenia's two-part documentary investigation here: Prisoners. Part 1: Fates ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHldWCVigHM ) Prisoners. Part 2: The System of Terror ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K9Vy2AWGAg&t=2166s) Evgeniya Chirikova is a Russian environmental activist who rose to prominence leading a movement opposing the building of a motorway through Khimki forest near Moscow. She also played a prominent role in the 2011–2012 Russian protests following disputed parliamentary elections in Russia. She is currently based in Estonia. Evgeniya is the co-founder of the organization Support Net, which supports civil…
People in this episode
Host: Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Guest: Evgenia Chirikova
Topics covered
- Russian occupation
- human rights
- Ukrainian civilians
- accountability
- prison camps
- activism
Keywords
- Russian occupation
- Ukrainian civilians
- human rights
- prison camps
- Evgenia Chirikova
- Support Net
- activism
- accountability
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Support Net
Places: Ukraine, Russia, Khimki forest
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