In a distressing turn amidst the Ukrainian conflict, reports have surfaced of Russians deceiving individuals with disabilities under the guise of seaside trips, only to forcibly transfer them to Russia. According to The Independent, among those forcibly relocated are people such as Maksym and Inna, whose families now face severe difficulties in tracing and retrieving their loved ones. The situation has also affected children, with 82 reportedly taken from an orphanage in Oleshky under similar false pretenses. The international community has raised concerns about these actions potentially constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In a separate issue in the UK, Martin Myers, associated with a Traveller family, has been controversially imprisoned for 18 years following an attempted street robbery involving a cigarette theft. His prolonged incarceration under an Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (IPP) reflects the broader challenges and criticisms faced by the criminal justice system. IPPs, introduced in 2003 but abolished in 2012, still affect nearly 3,000 people in England and Wales with overdue durations in prison. Myers’ case, highlighted by his family’s vocal opposition to the perceived injustice, underscores issues of prisoner treatment and the need for reform within the UK’s penal system. Myers was released on licence in 2023, but his case continues to attract attention to systemic issues and the support required for reintegrating former inmates.