30 September 2025
Articles
A life in defence of dignity: Oleksandr Hatiiatullin’s legacy, devoted to human rights
This article tells the story of how Oleksandr Hatiiatullin came to human rights work, the projects he led, the passions that inspired him, and how, through his own example, he motivated colleagues, friends, and even his daughter
You sit like a potted plant: you may be watered, or you may not, and then you will wither – journalist Dmytro Khyliuk. A story of captivity and freedom
ZMINA met with Dmytro Khyliuk at the hospital where he is currently undergoing treatment and rehabilitation. She spoke with him about the first days of the occupation of the Kyiv region, the conditions of detention for Ukrainians in Russian colonies, what helped him maintain his psychological resilience in captivity, and what he plans to do in the future
News
In Russia, parents of illegally arrested Crimean Tatars were detained five times on their way to the ombudsman
All the detentions occurred over two incomplete days
Russia kills 3 in rocket strike on Sloviansk
The attack also damaged apartment blocks, houses, a boiler house, and several cars
Russia strikes Ukraine with missiles and drones overnight: people killed and injured, including children, some regions without power
The National Police of Ukraine, the State Emergency Service (SES), and regional military administrations reported civilian casualties. Russians also caused damage, including to energy and railway infrastructure, across the Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, Lviv, and Mykolaiv regions following Russian shelling on the night of October 30, 2025
Ukraine closes Cuba embassy and downgrades ties over Havana’s complicity in Russian aggression
Ukraine voted against the United Nations General Assembly resolution "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba," adding that this step has serious grounds
Russia has killed 661 Ukrainian children since start of its full-scale war
Kravchenko said that Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have been investigating 5,363 criminal proceedings concerning crimes against children during the war
Russians strike passenger minibus in Sumy Oblast with a drone, injuring 10 including two children
A Russian drone struck a route taxi on the Sumy-Bilopillia motorway in the Sumy District, injuring 10 people, including two children
Former Lithuanian NATO representative accuses Merkel of blocking Ukraine’s Crimea defense
In recent years, Germany has been subject to influence from the Russian Federation through financial, political, and lobbying levers, particularly in the context of the Nord Stream 2 project, which authorities promoted following the illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014
At least six dead, 13 wounded including two children in Russian strikes across Ukraine on October 25
On October 25, Russian attacks killed six civilians and wounded 13 others, including two children, across multiple regions of Ukraine, the heads of the local regional military administrations reported
The number of wounded in Kyiv due to the overnight drone attack has risen to 32 (updated)
Russians killed three people and injured at least 32 others in an overnight Russian air attack on Ukraine's capital Kyiv
Russian shellings killed eight Ukrainians on October 23
The National Police of Ukraine reported that Russian shelling on October 23, 2025, killed eight civilians across the city of Kyiv and the Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Kherson Oblasts, with over three dozen others wounded, including those in the Zaporizhzhia and Sumy regions.
Children of Crimean political prisoners need mental rehabilitation and recognition — Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People
he exhibition will run for two weeks, until November 5, at the Museum of Outstanding Figures of Ukrainian Culture, located at 93 Saksahanskoho Street, Kyiv (the building of the L. Ukrainka Museum). Admission is free
Zelenskyy calls on EU leaders to end “artificial blockade” of Ukraine’s membership path
The leaders of 26 EU member states are expected to adopt a decision at the Brussels summit confirming that Ukraine is ready to begin negotiations with the EU on three clusters
Russia returns 1,000 bodies claimed to be Ukrainian service members
The identities of those killed in Ukraine are established in more than 30 laboratories, whereas there were only five at the start of the invasion
Russian forces kill five, wound one in Bakhmut District village in the Donetsk Oblast — Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor’s Office
When the woman, 57, regained consciousness, she found that Russian forces had killed her family. Fearing for her younger son, she went to the neighbor's basement, where she discovered his body alongside the remains of a 62-year-old woman and her 30-year-old son, both shot dead
After Russians kills at least 9, strike energy infrastructure, Ukrainian Foreign Minister says Moscow lacks pressure to end the war
Sybyha noted that Ukraine needs larger volumes of energy resources and funds, generators, equipment for repairing damaged energy facilities, and additional air defense systems
Russians kills at least 7, wounds 51 Ukrainians in massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine
Ukraine's air force said Russia had sent 405 drones and 28 missiles, 15 of which were ballistic
Russian shelling killed two people in Ukraine on October 19, with children among the wounded
According to the data of the National Police of Ukraine, Russian shelling on October 19 killed two civilians and wounded at least 12 others across the Kharkiv, Kherson, and Donetsk oblasts
Security Service raids relatives of NABU detective investigating high-profile cases in Ukraine
Law enforcement sources told the Ukrainska Pravda news outlet that the detective is Mykhailo Romaniuk. He heads the department investigating cases against former presidential office adviser Artem Shylo and SBU Brigadier General Illia Vitiuk
Coalition of Ukrainian organizations, including ZMINA, publishes shadow report on EU accession
The report includes more than 500 recommendations, ranging from legislative changes to institutional reforms. These are designed to help public authorities address current challenges, secure sustainable results, and, together with international partners, set clear reform priorities
“How can there be any deal without us about us?”: Zelenskyy rejects ceding more territory, ready to join Trump-Putin Budapest meeting
Zelenskyy, who called Putin a terrorist in the interview, confirmed his readiness to meet with him face-to-face
In Kharkiv Oblast, 12 settlements came under attack within a day: one person killed and another injured
A number of civilian infrastructure objects were damaged and destroyed in the attacks
Russians kill one person in Ukraine on October 15
Russian shelling on October 15, 2025, killed one person in the Donetsk region and wounded 17 others across the Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kherson, and Kharkiv Oblasts
In Switzerland a man attacked a family for speaking Ukrainian on a train; Swiss police reluctant to react
The woman also noted that after the video was published, other people recognized the man and reported similar incidents. They claimed he had allegedly repeatedly threatened women and children with violence and rape. Dudnyk asserts the attacker's name is Alexander Vabix and that he is from Latvia
Russians tortured to death two 16-year-old teens from occupied Melitopol
In late May 2024, the occupiers informed the parents of Dakhov and Hrymak that their children had allegedly died from a homemade explosive device while committing sabotage. However, according to sources for Suspilne Zaporizhzhia, Danylo and Pavlo were tortured to death in April 2024
Russia detains four Crimean Tatar women after mass raids in occupied Crimea
Russian security forces raided the homes of Crimean Tatars and detained four women in temporarily occupied Crimea on the morning of October 15, 2025, Refat Chubarov, chair of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, stated
Crimean political prisoner Lenur Khalilov, who was released from a Russian penal colony due to his health condition, has been taken into custody again
The Crimean Muslim had been diagnosed with several illnesses, including primary liver cancer with metastases to the lymph nodes, chronic hepatitis C, Stage II hypertension, small liver cysts, a cyst on the left kidney, and kidney stones
Russian shelling on October 13 kills four, injures dozens across Ukraine
Russian shelling on October 13, 2025, killed at least four civilians and wounded more than 10 others across the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions, according to the National Police of Ukraine
Russia conducts 22nd illegal conscription campaign in occupied Crimea, violating the Fourth Geneva Convention
Russia has significantly expanded its conscription apparatus since 2023 through legislative changes that digitalize military registration. These include creating a "unified register of conscripts" and introducing electronic summons that became operational in occupied Crimea in May 2025. The system allows conscription without physically delivering summons to individuals
EU allocates first 10 million euros toward Special Tribunal to prosecute Russian leaders for crime of aggression
The tribunal will be set up within the framework of the Council of Europe. The Crimea of Aggression refers to the decision to use armed force against another state, in violation of the UN Charter
Russia attacks UN humanitarian convoy in Kherson Oblast, destroys aid trucks (updated)
Prokudin reported Russia deliberately struck four white trucks with UN markings that were carrying humanitarian aid to civilians, using drones and artillery
Russian shelling killed eight people in Ukraine on October 12
Russian shelling on October 12 killed eight civilians and wounded 16 others across the Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, the National Police of Ukraine reported
Crimean political prisoner Emil Ziyadinov has been held in AdSeg of a Russian colony for a year
Crimean Tatar activist and children's coach Emil Ziyadinov, who was illegally sentenced by the occupying authorities to 17 years in prison, has been held for one year in administrative segregation (AdSeg) at correctional colony No. 5 in Koryazhma, Arkhangelsk region, the Russian Federation
Since early August, the Russian occupiers have launched nearly 300 attacks on Ukrainian Railways infrastructure
Kuleba awarded and thanked Ukrzaliznytsia workers who ensure the daily movement of trains despite Russian attacks. He added that since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Russians wounded 221 railway workers and killed 37 others while performing their duties
Russian occupiers hold 220 Crimean political prisoners, issue 12,000 illegitimate ‘court decisions’ on deportation from peninsula – the Mission of the President of Ukraine in Crimea
The Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is currently aware of 220 political prisoners from the peninsula being held by Russia. Separately, the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol has statistical data on 12,000 "court decisions" by the occupying authorities ordering the deportation of civilians from Crimea
EU commitments boost anti-corruption agencies’ independence, but gaps remain — NABU and SAPO
Ukraine continues to fulfill its obligations regarding the strengthening of the independence of its anti-corruption institutions, a key part of the European integration process. While the heads of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) believe new measures strengthen their institutional capacity, they noted that certain gaps still remain
Russia launches double-tap drone attack on Ukrainian energy workers, killing two
A Russian drone struck a repair vehicle of Chernihivoblenergo in the Semenivka hromada – a local government area that includes one or more nearby settlements – in the Chernihiv region on the evening of October 10, killing two workers and wounding three others
Reporters Without Borders releases details of targeted Russian attack killing journalist Anthony Lallican
French freelance photojournalist Antoni Lallican was killed near Kramatorsk in a deliberate strike by a Russian drone on 3 October. His Ukrainian colleague Georgiy Ivanchenko was critically wounded
Russian attack overnight kills, wounds civilians including child; some Districts of Ukraine’s capital left without power (updated)
Killed and wounded civilians and damaged infrastructure were reported across the city of Kyiv and the Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, and Poltava regions following Russian shelling on the night of October 10, 2025. The strikes caused power cuts across several of these regions
Russian strikes killed six people in Ukraine on October 8
Russian shelling on October 8, 2025, killed six people and wounded 15 others across the Kherson, Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions
Unknown actors impersonate ZMINA Human Rights Centre to target civil society organizations: ZMINA calls on recipients to trust only @zmina.ua domain
ZMINA has also asked anyone who receives such emails to report them to the organization at: info@zmina.ua
Political prisoner Denys Petranov has appealed to the international community regarding the inhumane conditions of detention for Ukrainians in Russian prisons
Political prisoner Denys Petranov, who is illegally detained in Russia, has called on international humanitarian organizations to increase their efforts to provide assistance to Ukrainians held in Russian prisons
Russia kills civilians in Sumy, cuts power in Odesa in overnight attacks
Civilians were killed and wounded, and damage was reported in the Odesa and Sumy regions following Russian shelling on the night of October 9
DIU has identified more than 170 cultural properties stolen by Russians from Ukraine
Intelligence officials reported that over 140 artifacts were stolen during illegal archaeological excavations in temporarily occupied Crimea from sites such as the Southern Suburb of Chersonesos Taurica, the Kadykivske settlement (a Roman camp), and the Byzantine architectural monument known as the "Church of John the Baptist."
Russia has destroyed several grain storage facilities and a food production plant over the past several days
On the night of October 4, 2025, Russian drones shelled the Chernechchyna hromada – a local government area that includes one or more nearby settlements – in the Sumy region, hitting a grain storage facility in what reports indicated was a deliberate strike
Ukraine, EU prosecutors sign cooperation deal to prevent misuse of aid funds
The document was signed following a meeting between SAPO Head Oleksandr Klymenko and European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi
Ukraine sentences 202 Russian troops for war crimes – the Office of the Prosecutor General
The investigation into war crimes committed by Russian military personnel in Bucha and the Bucha District of the Kyiv region is also ongoing. Investigators continue to document these crimes with international partners
“I didn’t want this war”: Indian student says Russia coerced him into military service after drug conviction
The man said he had traveled to Russia to study but was imprisoned on drug-related charges and later offered "freedom" in exchange for signing a military contract
Overnight Russian attacks hit railway in Poltava, energy site in Sumy, civilians in Kherson; two killed, five injured (updated)
Civilians were killed and wounded, and material damage was reported in the Sumy, Poltava, and Kherson regions following Russian shelling on the night of October 7, 2025
The ICC found the leader of the “Janjaweed” guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur
The case also represents the first conviction for gender-based persecution at the Court
Russian strikes kill at least 5 civilians, wound 32 in eastern and southern Ukraine over the past 24 hours
The Sumy Oblast Military Administration and Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President, reported that Russians deliberately struck a local health care facility with a drone in Sumy, causing the roof of a perinatal center to catch fire. At the time of the strike, 166 people were inside the center, including 11 children and 35 patients
Russia kills 5, wounds 22 in overnight attacks across Ukraine (updated)
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia launched more than 50 missiles and around 500 attack drones against Ukraine on the night of October 4-5, targeting Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odesa, and Kirovohrad oblasts
A Russian soldier killed three civilians in the temporarily occupied Kharkiv region – DIU
Intelligence officials added that the Russian occupier who opened fire did not survive. According to his accomplices, he died from his own bullets
Russian double-tap drone strike on Ukraine railway station in Shostka, Sumy region, injures 30, including 3 children (updated)
Oleksii Kuleba, deputy prime minister for the restoration of Ukraine and minister of communities, territories, and infrastructure development, said that Russian forces struck the railway station twice during the evacuation
Russia tortures Crimean Tatar prisoner Mamut Belyalov again – human rights defenders
26-year-old Mamut Belyalov, who is already serving a 12-year sentence on fabricated charges, has been brought back to occupied Crimea and subjected to so-called ‘interrogation’ in the form of savage beatings, without a lawyer present
Russian forces kill French photojournalist Anthoni Lallican in targeted drone attack in Donetsk Oblast (updated)
Ukrainian journalist and freelance photographer Heorhiy Ivanchenko, a member of the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, was working with him at the time. He was injured but is in stable condition
Russian shelling kills five civilians in Ukraine on October 1
As a result of Russian shelling on October 1, five civilians were killed in the Kherson and Kharkiv regions, and more than 30 injured in the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Sumy regions
Russia’s attacks extend beyond Ukraine and threaten all of Europe — PACE resolution
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a new resolution on Russian aggression. According to the document, Russia's attacks go beyond Ukraine and threaten all of Europe, and the Ukrainian state has the sovereign right to membership in any international organizations, including NATO
Overnight Russian attack hits railways, kills civilians in multiple regions of Ukraine
Russian shelling on the night of October 2, 2025, killed and wounded civilians in the Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Chernihiv regions and destroyed railway infrastructure
Crimean Muslim political prisoner endures harsh conditions for over three years in Russia’s Bashkortostan colony
One reason cited was that he did not interrupt his prayers when the colony chief entered the cell. Aliyev sent a complaint about his placement in solitary confinement to the Salavat City Court, but the situation did not change
Russian attack leaves Chernobyl’s New Safe Confinement without electricity
The New Safe Confinement, which covers the destroyed fourth reactor, was left without power. The structure is critical to preventing the release of radioactive materials
Russian strikes kill 2, wound 53 across Ukraine in 24 hours
On September 30 and overnight into October 1, 2025, Russians shelled the Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kherson, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts (regions), using missiles, aerial bombs, artillery, and drones. At least two people were killed and 53 were wounded. Residential buildings, markets, a hospital, infrastructure, and transport were damaged
