30 November 2023
Articles
Discrimination has a chain reaction: if you start with one group, you can end up discriminating against anyone – family doctor Daryna Dmytriievska
During the war, Ukrainians face a variety of challenges, including difficult access to healthcare services due to the reduced number of doctors. For the LGBTIQ community, this issue is further complicated by the stigma and discrimination that can occur in healthcare facilities.
Kremlin’s forgotten political prisoners in Crimea: Human rights advocates urge global focus on Ukrainian hostages at the Crimea Platform
In this article, ZMINA reveals what was debated on the sidelines of the summit, the potential prerequisites for peace, the scale of the crisis involving Crimeans persecuted by Russia, and why raising awareness is crucial to achieving justice
“Inclusion is about everyone”: Tania Kasian on the challenges and opportunities for Ukrainian businesses in implementing non-discriminatory practices
Read more about the current state of non-discriminatory practices in business, the role of the Corporate Equality Index, the challenges companies face during the war, and the importance of measures that promote inclusion in the interview.
“Students who are bullied tend to stop studying or not get an education at all”: human rights defender Maryna Shevtsova on the situation of LGBTIQ children in schools
The problems faced by LGBTIQ students, modern approaches to solving them, examples of successful initiatives, and the role of schools, parents, and the state in supporting these children are discussed in the material.
The global HIV/AIDS epidemic: how the UN is trying to overcome it by 2030 despite Russian sabotage
Read about how UN is trying to overcome HIV-AIDS in the world and how Russia's war against Ukraine affected it.
“The father did not find out where Raim was before his death”: why Russia transfers Crimean political prisoners as far as possible from their relatives
Human rights activists consider this to be one of the Russians' methods of putting pressure on those who disagree with the occupation policy in Crimea
Personnel reserve for free Crimea: a pilot management training project in Ukraine
Read the article to find out who can apply for this program and how the work on forming a talent pool is going
Human rights defender Maksym Butkevych celebrates his third birthday in Russian captivity
ZMINA published the full text of his speech during the cassation hearing of his case by the Russian court, which was recorded by one of the visitors
Proud of the “new country”: who is helping the occupiers to form the bar in Zaporizhzhia region
How the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Bar Association was assembled out of nowhere and who among Ukrainian lawyers contributed to the integration of the occupied territories into the Russian legal space, read in this article
From Kupiansk to Melitopol: the Russian system of torture in illegal detention centers
ZMINA analysts reviewed the testimonies of victims who were illegally detained by the Russians in various places in the occupied territories between April 2022 and March 2023. Here are the main points from the analytical report
Judges, prosecutors and sperm producers: who “administers justice” in the occupied Luhansk region
Read about the work of the occupation courts in the Luhansk region in this article
Wagner Group mercenaries may be involved in the militarization of Ukrainian teenagers in Belarus
ZMINA has learned that mercenaries from the private military company “Wagner Group” conducted training in some of the military camps where Ukrainian teenagers were brought
Who works in the courts of first instance in the occupied part of Donetsk region
The Donetsk occupation system of “justice” developed in 2014 is based on Ukrainian traitor judges, who have been the backbone of the judiciary of the illegal DPR formation all this time. Many have been working without a break for the second decade and have already taken their third oath of allegiance
“Our priority is to ensure victim-centered justice” – Interview with the Head of the Peace and Human Rights Program at the Swiss Embassy in Ukraine
On the eve of the summit, Vannay Gaetan, Head of the Peace and Human Rights Program at the Swiss Embassy in Ukraine, told ZMINA how his country is helping Ukraine in the war by searching for missing persons, conducting humanitarian demining, and ensuring justice for victims
“It’s 7-8 kilometres here”: school principal in Kherson region forced by occupiers to swim across Dnipro because he did not want to cooperate
He shared his story with ZMINA about the pressure on teachers during the occupation and how he managed to survive and escape with his family.
Who is now administering “supreme” justice in the occupied territory of Donetsk region
Who took control of the so-called “Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's Republic,” what motivated people from Russian regions to start working there, and to what extent local “elites” have retained their presence in the central judicial institution, read in ZMINA article.
Operation Blockbuster: why Russians shoot staged videos with detained Ukrainians
ZMINA explored how Russian security forces and courts turn civilian Ukrainians into “terrorists” and why propagandists publish videos of their detentions and confessions
Who became “judges” in the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia region
As for all kinds of natives of the Russian hinterland, the question of their prosecution by the Ukrainian authorities will depend on the degree of participation in war crimes against the civilian population
How Kremlin propaganda in the occupied territories of Ukraine has changed over 10 years
ZMINA traced how propaganda rhetoric has changed over the ten years of occupation of the Luhansk region and talked to media experts about narratives of Russian propaganda in the occupied territories of Ukraine, using the example of publications between 2015 and 2024
Who went to work in the “courts” in the occupied Kherson region
Read this article about how and from whom the “judicial bodies” were formed in the Kherson region and how impartial the new judges seem
How do Ukrainians see life in the occupied territories after liberation – a study
From March 11 to March 16, 2024, sociologists interviewed 2005 respondents aged 18 and older in all regions except the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) of Crimea and Donbas and those areas where Ukrainian mobile communications were unavailable at the time of the survey
Evacuation under fire: how volunteers work in the frontline areas in Ukraine
What is it like to work on the contact line and help the locals while risking your life? ZMINA talked to Yevhen Kaplin, head of the Proliska humanitarian mission
80 Years of Pain: Ukraine calls for recognition of 1944 Crimean Tatar genocide on 80th anniversary
ZMINA explains how the deportation of Crimean Tatars took place, what the Ukrainian parliament is calling for, and why it is important
How Ukraine passes judgment on violations of the laws and customs of war?
ZMINA analyzed how Ukraine tries war criminals and what challenges it faces
Ten years of occupation of Crimea: memories of Crimean journalists on how it began
The event participants also watched the documentary by the reporter’s team of Crimea.Realities titled “The first pro-Ukrainian action in Simferopol after the Russian troops’ arrival: risk, “traitors of Crimea,” and abduction”
Re-education under the guise of recovery: how Belarus helps Russia to take Ukrainian children from the occupied territories
About who illegally is taking children from the occupied territories and how they are trying to re-educate them in Belarus, read the article
The Pain Does Not Disappear but You Learn to Live with It. Three Stories of Wives of Fallen Soldiers
This article presents fragments from the lives and losses of three women whose husbands died in the war. Yuliia from Kyiv, Oksana from Lviv, and Alyona from Zaporizhzhia all unanimously say about their loved ones: "He is worth being known about".
Women with disabilities share about their experience with volunteering and inclusion amidst the war in Ukraine
In this article, women with disabilities shared their experiences of living through the war, the challenges they face, particularly in the context of gender equality, and their plans for the post-war future
Is Ukraine’s strategy in the International Court of Justice justified, and what lessons should we learn?
Experts from the Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group analyzed the Court’s decision and the prerequisites that could have contributed to the dismissal of most of the claims
“Mariupol is a pattern of Russian warfare” – how Russia destroyed the city
ZMINA recounts the main points from the study “Our City Was Gone.” Russia’s Devastation of Mariupol, Ukraine"
How should Ukraine respond to court decisions issued during the occupation?
Judges, prosecutors, and human rights activists shared their vision during the discussion “What should be the state’s approach to court decisions made during the occupation after the liberation of the territories of Ukraine?” organized by the ZMINA Human Rights Center.
Ukraine: Ten victories in human rights in 2023
ZMINA has compiled the most significant developments and events in the field of human rights that took place in 2023 in Ukraine
Columns
Rapid response to discrimination against LGBTIQ people at work: How can companies protect their employees?
As a queer person who is open about his or her orientation, I can say that constant control over what you say, post, and who you communicate with creates pressure. This not only affects your mental state, but also reduces productivity, because energy is spent on self-control rather than on work tasks
Understanding Russia’s colonial aspirations is key to peace talks
Rory Finnin insists, when discussing peace in Ukraine, it's impossible to ignore the historical context. The Crimean Peninsula, home to Crimean Tatars for centuries, has become a symbol of Russian imperial ambitions. Understanding this complex history is crucial for countering Kremlin propaganda and finding ways to justly resolve the conflict
Russia’s іmperial ambitions: How control of Crimea shapes the future of Eastern Europe
We must learn from the Minsk and Normandy processes. Russia has historically used peace talks to undermine partners and prepare for future conflicts. The international community must maintain consensus and prioritize Ukraine's sovereignty, Prof. Wilfried Jilge stated
“Not alone”: indigenous peoples unite in struggle against global conflicts
Speech at the Expert Forum of Crimean Platform by Binalakshmi Nepram, Senior Advisor on Indigenous Issues, United States Institute of Peace; Expert on Global Indigenous People Alliance, Gender Justice, and Peace
Six most common Russian propaganda narratives used against Ukrainians
Russian propaganda employs various narratives to justify aggression against Ukraine and dehumanize Ukrainians. The narratives include labeling Ukrainians as Nazis, terrorists, and enemies of the state, using World War II archetypes, religious dehumanization, and vertical propaganda structures, all aimed at legitimizing the destruction of Ukrainians in the minds of Russians
Working in the occupied territories: what international humanitarian law says about it
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, the Verkhovna Rada has adopted a new article of the Criminal Code that criminalizes cooperation in various forms with the occupying authorities.
Teachers under occupation: who should be punished for collaboration and what are the problems in the legislation
In Ukraine, since about November 2022, after the liberation of the temporarily occupied city of Kherson, there has been a professional, legal, and emotional discussion about how to approach the issue of educators’ work under occupation
Crimean courage: risking freedom for Ukrainian identity
The President's Mission to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea observes numerous persecution cases in the so-called “courts,” including the illegitimate one in occupied Armyansk. People are prosecuted after “filtration measures” – stopped, checked by the FSB, and detained if anything related to Ukraine is found on their phones or in notebooks. There are many such cases, and we need to talk about those who suffer
Cutting US support for ICC because of Israel would hurt Ukrainian war victims
U.S. legislators should remember the progress they’ve made toward justice for Ukrainian victims. They should let the ICC prosecutor and judges do what they have been elected by 124 countries to do and support them where possible, Nadia Volkova noted
What triggers world wars?
ZMINA published a TED Talk by Anton Drobovych, Director of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory and military serviceman, titled "Remembering the past. Fighting for the future."
Forced filming in propaganda: How Russians use civilian hostages to strengthen their power
For the most part, relatives who contacted the ZMINA Human Rights Center complained that the occupiers did not inform them about the circumstances or the detention of their loved ones
News
Russian strikes kill two children, woman in overnight attacks in Donetsk region
The attacks damaged multiple residential buildings and outbuildings in both settlements
Russian missile strike on Zaporizhzhia kills three, injures 15
The attack damaged numerous civilian structures, including a kindergarten.
Western parts in North Korea missiles prompt Ukraine’s call for stricter global export controls
A Top Ukrainian diplomat expressed outrage after the examination of a North Korean KN-23/24 missile, downed in Ukraine. It revealed numerous recently manufactured Western-made components
Ukraine calls for international actions as new evidence shows Russians executing surrendered soldiers
Russian milbloggers largely glorified the Russian execution of the Ukrainian POWs, reinforcing a cultural norm to justify and celebrate war crimes within the broader Russian ultranationalist community
Jehovah’s Witness Vitaliy Buryk arrested in temporarily occupied Kerch
Occupation authorities claim the 53-year-old Kerch resident allegedly organised meetings of a district branch of this religious organization and stored banned literature at home
Russians attack Odesa with ballistic missiles again, killing one civilians and injuring eight
Ukrainian official reported that civilian vessels were damaged: the NS Moon, flying the flag of Belize, and the OPTIMA dry cargo vessel, flying the flag of Palau. Exactly a week ago, the OPTIMA was damaged by a ballistic missile
Crimean Human Rights Group calls for new international laws against genocide incitement
Iryna Siedova, a researcher of the Crimean Human Rights Group stated that a present-day task for international community to actively start developing new advanced instruments for identifying calls for genocide and bringing the guilty to justice
Ukraine sanctions 11 more illegitimate “judges” in Russian-occupied Crimea for persecuting residents and indigenous people
The Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea views these sanctions as a crucial tool in disrupting repressive mechanisms in the temporarily occupied territories and limiting the occupation administration's ability to continue persecutions
Ukraine to give Vatican list of journalists illegally held by Russia – Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy and the Pope agreed that Ukraine would provide a list of journalists currently held captive in Russia and would discuss the release of civilians and deported children
Russian ballistic missiles hit residential building in Odesa Oblast, four dead, including teen
The victims include a 43-year-old woman, a 22-year-old man, and a 16-year-old girl. Another woman succumbed to her injuries at the hospital
Russians killed nine civilians in their attack on port infrastructure in Odesa Oblast (updated)
Overall, this is the 21st civilian vessel to be damaged by Russian attacks since the full-scale war began in 2022.
Jehovah’s Witnesses jailed for six years by sham “court” in temporarily occupied Crimea
The convicted men maintain their innocence regarding charges of organizing extremist activities and have requested acquittal in their appeals
Special unit evacuates Navy officer’s family facing FSB persecution in temporarily occupied Crimea
Russians held illegally the entire family for three days, subjected to psychological pressure and threats of torture. In doing so, the Russians were planning to coerce the Ukrainian officer to cooperate
Petition calls on German Bundestag to recognize Soviet crimes against Crimea’s indigenous people – Crimean Tatars
Over 46% of the Crimeans (Crimean Tatars) perished from hunger, disease, forced labour, and inhumane living conditions within the first few years following the deportation 1944
Russians execute 16 Ukrainian POWs in active war zone of Donetsk Oblast, marking largest known battlefield killing
The Prosecutor General's Office is verifying the posted material. Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin described this as the largest known execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war on the battlefield
Russians kill seven and injure three civilians on Kherson market
Law enforcement officers have initiated a pre-trial investigation into criminal proceedings regarding violations of the laws and customs of war
Russian aerial attack on Zaporizhzhia kills one, injures 32 civilians including children
One person had been killed in the Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia, and 32 people, including three children, had sustained injurie
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry condemns Switzerland’s support of detrimental for peace Chinese and Brazilian initiative
The ministry called the Ukrainian Peace Formula the only way to a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace and stated there was no need to create additional formats and platforms to discuss ways to achieve peace for Ukraine
Russians kill judge of Ukrain’s Supreme Court Leonid Loboyko in drone attack in Kharkiv Oblast
The Supreme Court confirmed the death of its colleague
Russians struck hospital in Sumy twice, killing nine people and injuring 19
Rescue workers and police arrived at the scene to help, but the Russians launched a second strike during the evacuation
Russian army personnel kill four civilians in Donetsk Oblast over past 24 hours
Russian forces killed one person in Siversk and damaged two houses. In Toretsk, they killed two people, wounded two more, and damaged a house. One person died and three sustained injuries in Chasiv Yar, where attacks also damaged 11 houses, a multi-storey building, and a non-residential building
Russians kill four and injure 11 in morning strike on Izmail, Odesa Oblast (updated)
The Russians launched attack drones on Odesa oblast’s southern part
Crimean death toll rises: at least 769 locals killed after illegal Russian draft
The Mission pointed out that the actual number of casualties may be higher, as Russia is concealing its real losses
Death toll rises to five after Russian bombings in Kharkiv on September 24, dozens injured
Russian army personnel struck an apartment block in the north-east Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on September 24, 2024. The wave of strikes, which officials said hit four districts of the city, was conducted by Russia using guided glide bombs
More men than women applied for compensation after experiencing sexual violence during the war
The official said this fact "breaks the mold" that conflict-related sexual violence only affects women. While she did not provide an exact figure for those who have applied for compensation, the government reported in early August 2024 that there were at least 270 such cases
Russians killed two civilians in attack on residential area in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region
Russian forces damaged residential buildings and cars
Russia plans to attack three Ukrainian nuclear power plants – Zelenskyy
The President noted that the Peace Formula aims to protect the UN Charter. He has also invited China and Brazil to the second Peace Summit, while India had already been invited
Crimea’s status non-negotiable despite international suggestions
The Ukrainian ministry expressed its expectation of support from partners to force Russia to withdraw from Crimea and bring it to justice for violations of international law and international crimes committed on the whole territory of Ukriane
Zelenskyy pleads for Muslim nations to lead efforts in freeing Crimean Tatars and other political prisoners illegally detained by Russia
Zelenskyy emphasised the need for pressure on Russia from all partners to establish a proper exchange system based on the principle of "everyone for everyone." Zelenskyy pointed out that, based on previous experience, releasing political prisoners has been extremely challenging
Elderly and children among casualties in latest Russian strikes of Sumy region
Meanwhile, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell stated on September 10 that China is providing direct support to the Russian military apparatus, thus assisting its war against Ukraine
Ukrainian parliament calls for global recognition of 1944 Crimean Tatar deportation as genocide
Ukraine, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Canada, and Poland have already officially recognised the deportation of Crimean Tatars as an act of genocide
Russian authorities intensify pressure on detained Crimean journalist Remzi Bekirov. Human rights defenders call for letter writing campaign
Since the citizen of Ukraine arrived in Abakan, wardens have repeatedly and unjustifiably placed Bekirov in a punishment cell
Russian shelling of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast kills a child, injures three adults
A boy was killed due to Russian artillery shelling in Nikopol. Rescue workers pulled the body from under the rubble of a damaged building
Russian attacks kill eight civilians, injure 11 more in Donetsk Oblast over past 24 hours
Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, the death toll in the Donetsk Oblast, excluding Mariupol and Volnovakha, has reached 2,739
From Russia Today to Venice: Venice Film Festival showed Russian propaganda
Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica showcasted the documentary "Russians at War" with Russian propaganda by Russian-Canadian director Anastasia Trofimova
Seven dead in Lviv in fresh wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine on September 4
Among those killed were a baby and two girls aged nine and 14 as well as a woman working as a midwife in the city, officials said
Two Russian ballistic missiles hit Poltava, killing 59 injuring 328 people (updated)
Zelenskyy asked Western partners for more air defense systems and missiles to strike deep into Russian territory to prevent missile attacks like the one on Poltava
Russians damage mosque and islamic cultural center in Kyiv
Local authorities reported that debris from destroyed missiles injured three people
Over 60% of Ukrainians believe security guarantees will deter Russia from future aggression
62% of Ukrainians do not trust China as a mediator in possible negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, and 22% do
Russian Armed Forces strike Kharkiv multiple times, leaving almost 30 civilians injured
More than 40 civilians were injured, including 5 children. People may be trapped under the rubble
Ukraine urges Mongolia to arrest Putin during his visit
The ICC alleged last year that the Russian president was responsible for war crimes, focusing on the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia. It has also issued a warrant for the arrest of Russia's commissioner for children's rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for the same crimes.
Majority of Ukrainians see no distinction between Russian government and people in war responsibility
Sociologists note this view is shared by both the youngest and oldest generations of Ukrainians – 66% among young people aged 18 to 29 and 60% among those aged 60 and up
Russians attack grain lorry in Sumy Oblast, killing one person and injuring others
One grain lorry caught fire, and about 20 were damaged
Ukraine condemned destruction of Holy Cross Exaltation Church in temporarily occupied Yevpatoriia
The Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea has initiated criminal proceedings under Article 438, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ("Violation of the laws and customs of war")
Ukrainian cities host photo exhibition “Crimea through the eyes of citizen journalists: 10 years in captivity”
The exhibition contains 48 photos and information panels arranged on city squares in the form of the Crimean Tatar coat of arms – the Tamga. It showcases photographs taken by citizen journalists who, at great personal risk, documented the arrests, searches, trials, and other crimes committed by Russian occupiers against the Crimean Tatar people since the beginning of the occupation of Crimea
Russian bombardment kills seven and injures 77 in Kharkiv on August 30
Regional head Oleh Sinehubov said on Telegram at least 20 were in serious condition and some requiring amputations. He added that the strikes had been launched from Russia's Belgorod region, which sits just across the border
Ukrainian and Russian citizens abandon temporarily occupied Crimea: What’s driving the exodus?
Crimean activists pointed out multiple signs supporting their conclusion. They note that official Russian statistics show a positive migration balance for temporarily occupied Crimea of about 2,000 people
Russians kill entire family with an aerial bomb in Donetsk Oblast
The bomb struck a residential area, destroying a house
Woman attacked by Russian drone in Kherson Oblast dies in intensive care
Additionally, forensic examiners received the body of another fatality, a resident of the village of Sadove. This 65-year-old man died from injuries sustained in a Russian bombardment on 27 August
Four people killed and 16 wounded in new combined Moscow attack – Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy reported that the Russians used more than 90 aerial weapons against civilians and infrastructure in this combined attack: 81 Shahed drones, as well as cruise, ballistic and aerial missiles
Ukrainian identity shift forced Russia to occupy Crimean Peninsula in 2014 – historian
By 2011-2012, polls indicated a shift: a majority of Crimean residents had come to identify as Ukrainian citizens, outnumbering those nostalgic for Soviet rule or a Russian affiliation for Crimea. This marked a significant turning point, Hromenko explained
Russia attacked Ukraine’s energy sector on August 26th, killing 7 people and injuring 47 others, including 4 children
Energy infrastructure of Ukraine was among the main targets overnight of August 26, 2024
Russia struck hotel in Kramatorsk Donetsk Oblast: Two journalists injured, one trapped under rubble
All three victims are journalists, citizens of Ukraine, the United States, and the United Kingdom
Russians attack 13 communities in Sumy Oblast, injuring four civilians
The Sumy Oblast Military Administration recorded a total of 265 explosions in Mykolaivka, Myropillia, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Nova Sloboda, Berezivka, Hlukhiv, Esman, Shalyhyne, Druzhba, Svesa and Seredyna-Buda hromadas
Illegitimate “court” in occupied Crimea sentences Hurzuf resident to 13 years for alleged “high treason”
The illegitimate “prosecutor's office” report provided no details of the case
Two civilians killed in Russian bombardment of Sumy Oblast
Two civilian men, aged 74 and 67, were killed in the attack. The wife of one of the deceased was injured and has been hospitalised
Russian strikes in Ukraine’s oblasts kill at least three and injure nine civilians on August 20
Around 13:30 Kyiv time, Russian forces attacked a private residential neighbourhood in the village of Hrodivka in the Pokrovsk district, injuring two civilians, a man and a woman
Russians use Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant as ground for strikes on Nikopol and equipment storage – Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy warned that Russian presence consistently poses a fundamental threat to the radiation safety of Ukraine, Europe, and the world
Russians drop aerial bombs on Bilopillia: man killed, his daughter seriously injured
The Sumy Oblast Prosecutor’s Office reported that the bomb struck a private house, killing its 33-year-old owner and seriously injuring his 11-year-old daughter. Additionally, a 55-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man were injured in the attack
Russian strikes kill four civilians in Donetsk oblast on August 18
Russian forces also targeted the City of Myrnohrad in the Donetsk Oblast with artillery on the morning of August 18, claiming the life of one woman and injuring another one
Russians kill two volunteers in Kherson while distributing free water
The Mavi Hilal Ukraine charitable foundation lost two volunteers at once
Russians shell Ukrainsk in Donetsk Oblast, killing two civilians and injuring one more
Vadym Filashkin reported that around noon, the Russians shelled the town and damaged two five-storey residential buildings
Russian missile strike kills 14, Injures 44 in Kostiantynivka shopping centre
According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, as of the morning of 10 August, the Russian attack on Kostiantynivka killed also two children. The investigation reports that these were girls aged 9 and 11
Mexico defies ICC and invites Putin to president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum’s inauguration
The Ukrainian Embassy in Mexico acknowledged in a statement on August 7 that Mexico invites representatives of all countries with which it has diplomatic relations to the inauguration. However. It reminded the country of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) warrant for Putin's arrest
Siblings killed in Russian bombing of village in Sumy region
Artiukh revealed that the deceased were a brother and sister who were in the schoolyard at the time of the strike
Russians deploy military helicopters near civilian areas in temporarily occupied Crimea
Russian forces have deployed various air defense systems on the outskirts of settlements in the villages of Dzhankoi district
Russian Forces strike Kharkiv city centre, killing one and injuring twelve residents
The head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, stated that preliminary information indicates the Russians used an Iskander missile to attack Kharkiv, causing damage to civilian premises, including a clinic building, cars and residential infrastructure, and shattering windows
From survival to strategy: study reveals recovery challenges in liberated Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts
The temporary occupation has fundamentally altered the social, economic, public, and resource characteristics of territorial communities in Kharkiv and Kherson regions. Transatlantic Dialogue Center emphasizes that analyzing and considering these changes is crucial for developing an effective reintegration strategy adaptable to newly liberated Ukrainian territories
Research: Russian propagandists have changed methods of influencing residents of occupied territories
The expert stressed that there is a need for a constant presence of voices from the occupied territories in the Ukrainian information space and at the international level
Russians kill teenager in Hlukhiv and injur 12 more, mostly children
The attack also damaged apartment buildings and houses, an educational institution, a shop, and vehicles
Militarisation of children and youth continues: 26 new junior military units formed in occupied Donetsk region
The occupiers have created 26 new units of the all-Russian Yunarmiya movement in the occupied Donetsk region: in Mariupol, Volnovakha and adjacent settlements.
“Unpunished evil grows”: Human Rights Center ZMINA calls for new mechanism to free Crimean political prisoners
To advocate for personal sanctions, ZMINA is also gathering information about Russian officials involved in the illegal persecution of Crimean residents, including FSB officials and illegal 'judges' who have made unlawful decisions
Russians dismantled last Ukrainian church in temporarily occupied Crimea
Parishioners refused to cooperate despite constant threats and pressure to follow the so-called court ruling. Thereby the Russian-controlled authorities in Yevpatoriia filed another court appeal, this time seeking to demolish the temple on their own and make the parishioners cover the costs
Russians destroyed 214 objects of medical infrastructure in Ukraine since full-scale
The Russians deliberately attack hospitals, maternity facilities, outpatient clinics and clinics
Russian airstrike hits residential area in Mykolaiv, killing three civilians, including child
Among those killed in Mykolaiv is 12-year-old Kyrylo Diadiushko. He was involved in folk dancing, as reported by the ensemble where the boy danced
Russians strike Kherson Oblast with MLRS: Two killed, medics injured, extensive damage reported
The head of the Oblast Military Administration also clarified that the Russians had attacked Bilozerka with Grad multiple-launch rocket systems, firing about 40 projectiles
Russians kill police officer Oleksandr Chekhun at checkpoint in Kherson Oblast
Chekhun is survived by his parents, his wife (also a police officer), and a 12-year-old daughter
Russians drop two guided aerial bombs on Lyman and injure five people
The Russians damaged a residential building, a business, three shops and a car
Six civilians injured in mine explosion during evacuation in Kharkiv Oblast
The Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor’s Office initiated a pre-trial investigation into the violation of the laws and customs of war under Art. 438.1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine
Russians killed Ukainian civilians in Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts on July 11
In Kherson, Russian forces used drones to drop explosives. It landed near a fire truck, wounding one firefighter and two civilians, according to the State Emergency Service on social networks
Russians killed at least 44 and injured 150 Ukrainians in their attack on Ukraine cities
Plumes of smoke could be seen across the capital of Ukraine, while video posted on social media showed the destruction inside and outside of the Okhmadyt children's hospital
Critical shortage of highly specialised medical specialists has been noted in the occupied Luhansk region
At the same time, medical facilities located in the occupied territory of the Luhansk region also need general practitioners, such as physicians and surgeons.
Russian Armed Forces struck Nova Poshta terminal in Kharkiv: one employee killed, nine civilians injured, including eight-month-old infant
A man died and ten others including a baby suffered injuries as a result of a guided aerial bomb strike on the terminal of the Nova Poshta courier service in Kharkiv on Sunday
Russia successfully promotes its narratives to Western media – Voice of America
Experts demonstrated the promotion of Russian narratives on the example of events in Crimea: Western media often pick up the Kremlin's quotes instead of covering the essence of the events in Russia's war against Ukraine
Russians killed seven civilians, including two children, and injured 43 people in Zaporizhzhia Oblast
According to Fedorov, Russian forces launched a missile strike on Vilniansk “in the middle of the day on a weekend, in the city centre where there is no military infrastructure and where people were enjoying their weekend.”
Russian authorities claim to have captured thousands of migrants and sent them to fight in Ukraine
Reports indicate that Russian law enforcement regularly raids industrial facilities where labour migrants work. Officials hand them subpoenas or take them to military enlistment offices. Authorities promise migrants without Russian citizenship expedited Russian passports if they sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense
Russians hit nine-storey building in Dnipro, killing one person and injuring other civilians
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote that this attack is a reminder to all partners of Ukraine that only sufficient quantity and quality of air defense systems and the world’s determination can stop Russian terror
In Crimea, the occupiers arrested 26 locals for Ukrainian symbols over the year
In total, from June 2023 to June 2024, the experts of the organisation verified 59 cases of prosecution of Crimeans under the norms of the Russian Federation's so called “anti-extremist laws” for demonstrating pro-Ukrainian views
There is no alternative but Zelenskyy’s Peace Plan – Sybiha
Can be no alternatives to the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty within the internationally recognised borders as of 1991, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea
Russians launch seventh massive strike on Ukraine’s energy system, causing widespread damage and injuries
Russian Armed Forces also targeted a thermal power plant belonging to DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, injuring three power engineers and severely damaging the plant's equipment
Soldier of Armed Forces of Ukraine beheaded by Russians in Donetsk Oblast has been identified
Kostin added that this incident serves as another proof of Russia's state policy of disregarding international law and universal morality
Russians injured 22 civilians in a missile attack on the City of Poltava
According to early reports, Russians struck the civilian infrastructure with a Kh-59 cruise missile. Thereby, civilians have been injured. The Poltava Oblast Prosecutor’s Office clarified that 22 people required medical attention
On the left bank of the Kherson region, occupiers threaten to take away the property of people in eight communities
On the left bank of the Kherson region, the occupiers published new lists of residential premises that they plan to “nationalise” due to the alleged absence of owners in Bekhterska, Yuvileina, Ivanivska, Chaplynska, Nyzhniosirohizka, Henicheska, Khrestivska communities and Askania-Nova.
Russians exploit foreigners as “cannon fodder” in their war against Ukraine – Ukraine’s UN envoy
Ukrainian intelligence states that Russia is running a global effort to recruit foreign mercenaries in at least 21 nations, including several in Africa
Zelenskyy called Putin’s ultimatum a revival of Russian Nazism
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called another series of statements by Putin manipulative. According to the MFA of Ukraine, Russia's statements aimed at misleading the international community, undermining diplomatic efforts to achieve a just peace and shattering the unity of the world majority around the purposes and principles of the UN Charter
Ukrainian media organisations strongly condemn pressure and threats against journalists of Texty
Ukrainian media movement called on the U.S. Congress and Senate to cease the pressure on Texty.org.ua and not exploit Ukrainian media for internal American political competition in the run-up to the upcoming elections in the USA
Texty.org.ua editorial team faces pressure after publishing investigation into critics of U.S. aid to Ukraine
Texty.org.ua views this campaign as an attack on freedom of speech and a display of chauvinism against the citizens of Ukraine
Nine civilians killed, 32 injured in Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih on June 12
A day of mourning for those killed in a Russian attack will be declared in Kryvyi Rih on 14 June
Journalism under siege for over a decade in temporarily occupied Crimea: How Russia has stifled freedom of the press on the Ukrainian peninsula
The policy of destroying independent media deprives Crimean residents of access to information from independent journalists, creating a propaganda bubble
In occupied Crimea, authorities plan to seize property from singer Jamala
The list also includes properties belonging to relatives of Ukrainian politician Vitalii Khomutynnik and “other Ukrainian neighbours of Zelenskyy in Livadiya”, occupying authorities said
Russians killed one and injured 14 civilians in Ukraine on June 10
According to the HRMMU, the increase in civilian casualties was mainly due to attacks in Kharkiv region since 10 May related to a ground offensive launched by Russian armed forces from the Russian Federation into the Kharkiv region
Number of students in Donetsk region schools has almost halved since the start of the full-scale invasion
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the number of students in Donetsk region's schools has almost halved, from 168,000 to 88,600.
In occupied Crimea, human rights defenders have recorded more than 30 cases of pressure on media professionals and citizen journalists since the beginning of the year
During 2022-2023, ZMINA recorded 162 of such cases
“We were kept in a pit near a petrol station”: a teenager from Kherson region told how he was taken to a torture chamber
The guy was taken to a cell where about 15 people were already there. It looked like some kind of shower room: everything was tiled and there was a drain in the corner. Vitalii was the youngest there.
Death toll due to Russian attack on Kharkiv region on 31 May rises to nine
Fatalities include three women aged 39, 68 and 86 and four men aged 52, 64, 41 and 28
Russians killed a woman and injured 12 more civilians in Kharkiv
Ukraine's Air Force reported that they have been observing a “carousel pattern” of Russian aircraft dropping bombs targeting the city of Kharkiv
Five residents of Donetsk Oblast were killed by Russians on May 26
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to world leaders who are still aside from the global efforts of the Global Peace Summit to join it. He called on them to show leadership in advancing real peace, not just a pause between strikes
Russian Armed Forces hit construction material hypermarket in Kharkiv, killing and injuring civilians (updated)
After the strike, a video of the fire and a massive cloud of smoke from the Epicentr hypermarket in Kharkiv is being shared on social media
Russians killed at least seven, injured 22 civilians in their missile attack on Kharkiv oblast and destroyed Vivat publishing house (updated)
The Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office said that Russian forces had launched a series of strikes with S-300 and S-400 missiles on Kharkiv and the town of Liubotyn starting at 10:30
De-identified Crimea: Occupying state massively eradicates ethnic celebrations – Amnesty International
Amnesty International concluded, that Russia has had ten years to implement its policies designed to alter the ethnic makeup of and suppress non-Russian identities in Crimea
Ukraine realises war will end with negotiations, there is Zelenskyy’s peace formula for this – Security and Defense Council Secretary of Ukraine
Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine (NSDC), Oleksandr Lytvynenko, expressed confidence that the formula will garner support at the Peace Summit in Switzerland this June 2024, believing "this real diplomatic track has every chance of contributing to a just peace."
Russian strike kills six civilians, injures 28 in Kharkiv recreation area
Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, stated that the Russian invaders targeted an area where civilians were relaxing. The police confirmed five fatalities, including a pregnant woman, with at least 28 injured
Violent intolerance: what is the reason for the new wave of quirophobic attacks and how to prevent it
ZMINA collected information about this year's cases of crimes against LGBTIQ people and talked to human rights defenders about what victims should do to ensure justice.
Russia’s forced demographic changes in Crimea violate international law – Amnesty International
Russia has had ten years to implement its policies designed to alter the ethnic makeup of and suppress non-Russian identities in Crimea. Through population transfer and coercive policies targeting minorities, it has sought to dilute and remove Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar identity from the peninsula
Most Ukrainians consider democracy the best system of government
In this trend, it joins European countries, with Sweden, Austria, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland occupying the top five positions
Russian occupying authorities harassed journalist Lutfiye Zudiyeva in Ukraine’s Crimea
Lutfiye Zudiyeva has covered the plight and trials of Crimean political prisoners as a member of the grassroots initiative Crimean Solidarity since 2016. She joined the editorial staff of the media project Graty in July 2021 and is interning in forensic journalism and storytelling
Russia militarizes education and erases cultural identity of children in temporarily occupied Crimea – UN and Amnesty International
The International Court of Justice found that the way in which Russia had implemented its educational system in Crimea after 2014 with regard to school education in the Ukrainian language had violated its obligations under Articles 2(1)(a) and 5(v) of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
EU explains why it still recognises Vladimir Putin as Russia’s president
Ukraine's Central Election Commission (CEC) declared the results of Russian ruler Vladimir Putin's so-called "elections" to be null and void and the Kremlin leader himself illegitimate
Crimea as a launchpad: Russian Forces utilise temporarily occupied Crimea for deadly attacks on civilians in Ukraine – Crimean Human Rights Group
Since late September 2022, Russians have been active in using Iran-made SHAHED kamikaze drones to attack civilian infrastructure. A substantial part of such drones is also launched from the occupied peninsula territory
Russians decimate entire street in border village of Kharkiv Oblast using modified FAB-1500 glide bomb
No more than a hundred locals were in this border village in the Kupiansk district, and no soldiers were present
India’s Trapped Sons: Duped by Russia, Indian citizens forced to fight on the front in Ukraine
BBC News told the stories of affected persons, including David Moothappan, 23, from the Indian village of Pozhiyoor in Kerala
Russians kill seven people and injur 32 civilians in their Odesa ballistic missile strike, likely with cluster munitions (updated)
Kiper reported that as of 22:00, four people had been reported killed, along with a dog. Another man died of a stroke brought on by the attack. A total of 32 people were injured, and 25 are in hospital, including two children and a pregnant woman
Crimean human rights organization explained how Russians persecute Crimeans who stand against Russian military aggression
Crimean Process is still convinced that the application of article 20.3.3 of the Russian administrative offense code in the temporarily occupied territory is not directed at prevention of crime but is preserved exclusively as a tool of oppressing Ukrainian sentiment among Crimeans
Russians damaged four thermal power plants, injuring civilians
Ukraine's Air Force reported the Russians used a total of 34 air-, ground- and sea-launched missiles. 21 missiles were shot down by Ukrainian air defense
Russia is ready to export its scheme of passport issuance into EU, post-Soviet countries and other European states – report
A human rights lawyer of the Eastern Human Rights Group, Vira Yastrebova, warned countries to pay attention to these markers of their passport issuance
Nine people killied in a Russian strike in the Dnipropetrovsk region
Besides the apartment block, two infrastructure facilities in Dnipro were damaged. Four houses were partially destroyed in the town of Synelnykove, and eight more were damaged. A facility in the town of Pavlohrad was also hit
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry outraged by Georgian PM’s statement about law on “foreign agents” and Ukraine
The leading members of the European Parliament has stated that the “foreign agent” law passed in the first reading in Georgia is an attack on independent media and civil society and threatens the country's Euro-Atlantic integration
Eighteen dead in Russian missile strike on Chernihiv (updated)
Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said there were more than 60 injured in the attack, which hit an eight-story building in a densely populated area. Two children were among the casualties. According to the officials, three missiles had struck close to the centre of the city
“Crippling strikes”: Russia destroyed key power plant in Kyiv oblast and aims to plunge Ukrainian cities into darkness (updated)
Armed Forces of Russian Federation launched another mass attack on Ukrainian critical infrastructure using Shahed kamikaze drones, cruise missiles launched from Tu-95MS aircraft, and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and guided air missiles from Su-34 jets overnight on April 11
Russia has been suppressing freedom of expression and religion during years of temporarily occupation of Crimea – UN and Amnesty International
In temporarily occupied Crimea, Russia has significantly curtailed the space for civil society to function, including criticizing or advocating. Media outlets have been shut down, disproportionately impacting Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian communities' rights to free expression, information access, and cultural expression
“There are no LGBTQ+ people in Crimea”: Russia cracked down on the LGBTQ+ сommunity in the temporarily occupied peninsula
As of 2014, the number of representatives of the LGBT+ community in Crimea amounted to approximately 16,200 persons. However, the number of people who remain in the territory in 2023 is unknown
Russia struck Kyiv by two ballistic missiles from temporarily occupied Crimea: ten people injured
The officials reported the debris from the rockets fell in the Pecherskyi, Solomianskyi, Holosiivskyi, and Darnytskyi districts of Kyiv, damaging two high-rise buildings and injuring five people, including one child
Russians significantly damaged Ukraine’s largest dam, the Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plant, in mass missile attack (updated)
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeated his calls for further military aid over recent days, specifically calling on the West to send Ukraine more air defence systems
A decade of repressions: Crimean Tatars and Ukrainains targeted in Russia’s brutal crackdown on dissent
Amnesty International stated that with international crimes, Russia has attempted to change the ethnic makeup of Crimea while suppressing non-Russian identities on the peninsula, including through restricting education in Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages, attacking religious minorities, stifling media and culture, as well as undermining representative institutions and abusing the criminal justice system
Ukrainian Watchdog OPORA urges global community to reject results of the Russian “presidential election”
The NGO explains that the legitimacy of the entire result of the presidential election of the Russian Federation will be called into question by the very inclusion of ballots received in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, especially
OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism will help Ukraine show the true scale of war crimes committed against civilians by Russia in Ukraine
According to the Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the OSCE, after bilateral consultations with Ukraine, members of 45 OSCE delegations decided to apply the 8th paragraph of the Moscow Mechanism
From hospitals to prisons: 2022 report of Ukrainian Ombudsperson paints grim picture of human rights in custodial settings of Ukraine
Overall, 8% of the Ombudsman's recommendations presented in the report were fully fulfilled by Ukrainian ministries and administrations of the custodial settings, 62% were being implemented, and 30% were not fulfilled in 2022
Memories of Halyna Haiova, a torture survivor of the infamous Izolyatsia prison
Halyna Haiova, a senior nurse from the city of Dokuchaievsk, Donetsk region, was arrested by representatives of the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”) at her workplace on October 14, 2016. She was accused of having pro-Ukrainian views and helping the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The woman was held in captivity for nearly sixteen months, most of which she spent in the Izolyatsia torture prison. Then, she was transferred to Donetsk pre-trial detention center, where she stayed for 105 days. Haly
UN ruling might fuel Crimean Tatar persecution by Russia – Chairman of Mejlis Refat Chubarov
Chubarov believes that in the current circumstances, the best "trial" for the Russians is the Ukrainian Armed Forces
The ICJ finds Russia only partially guilty of financing terrorism and discrimination of Crimean residents
The verdict was announced by Judge Joan Donoghue, a ZMINA correspondent reports
White Paper on preparation and conduct of postwar elections presented in Ukraine
The White Paper also contains a list of proposed solutions to the most pressing problems that need to be resolved before the election process is announced, with arguments for the time frame required for their implementation
Ukrainian family from Kyiv awarded the title of Righteous Among the Nations
Mariia and Mykhailo lived in the village of Pyrohivka, Khmelnytrskyi region, until the end of the Second World War. Then, they returned to Komsomolske, where they were reunited with their father after the war
Russians killed at least 18 civilians in missile strikes on Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other cities while Republicans in the US Congress blocked military aid to Ukraine (updated)
Earlier, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov called on the world to provide Kyiv with more weapons to stop Russian aggression
Attack in Donetsk market kills civilians, Ukraine vows to hold perpetrators accountable
Civilians have been killed and injured as a result of an attack on a market in Donetsk on January 21, 2024
Kyiv responds to Slovak PM who suggested concession against the territorial integrity of Ukraine
The Slovak prime minister noted that he intends to announce at the meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal that he will block Ukraine's accession to NATO in every possible way
Key Russian drone manufacturer of “Orlan-10” UAVs maintains production despite sanctions: leaked documents
According to the leaked documents, the propellers and engines of Orlan-10 are produced by the Chinese company T-Motor. The flight controllers and GPS modules are produced by the Chinese Radiolink Electronic Limited. Laptops are from Lenovo and cameras are from Sony
Bundestag rejects opposition proposal to supply Taurus to Ukraine
The CDU and CSU had already wanted to put the issue of the supply of Taurus missiles to a vote in the past. Still, the corresponding proposal was submitted to the committees by the coalition majority
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy asks Trump: What will you do if Putin doesn’t stop?
On the previous day, after Donald Trump's victory during the Republican primaries in Iowa the former U.S. President said: “I would bring Putin and Zelenskyy to the table and end the war…”
Mariupol resident, Mariana Checheliuk’s health deteriorated significantly due to captivity
Mariana Checheliuk, a 24-year-old police officer from Mariupol, has suffered a significant deterioration in her health and immune system due to her extended stay in captivity. In August 2023, she was transferred from a prison in Taganrog to Mariupol, where she is still being held.
If Ukraine had been given seven Patriot systems, people would not have been killed – Zelenskyy addressed Ukraine’s Western partners
Zelenskyy also pointed out the delays in supplies of Western weaponry, noting that many Ukrainians are being killed while the Ukrainian forces wait for this aid
Russians hit 4 oblasts with missiles: 4 Ukrainians killed, 45 more injured while Republicans in the US Congress blocked military aid to Ukraine (updated)
It should be understood that such targets can be shot down only by systems capable of doing it, particularly by Patriot systems, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, Colonel Yurii Ihnat, explained
A Russian missile strike killed 11 people, including five children, in Donetsk Oblast while Republicans in the US Congress blocked military aid to Ukraine
S-300 missiles hit the town of Pokrovsk in Ukrainian-held territory in Donetsk region
Russians killed 5 civilians, injured 129 in Ukraine on January 2. Fires still being put out in Kyiv
Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged to "intensify" attacks against Ukraine
