30 April 2026
Articles
“A rainbow in tricolour”: Crimean Polina Kustarova on growing up under the daily influence of propaganda
In an interview with ZMINA, Polina Kustarova uses her own experience to explain how propaganda operates at the level of schools, creative activities and family life – and how resistance can emerge even in such an environment
“It’s now the occupiers’ military commandant’s office”: Who is moving into Ukrainians’ homes in the temporarily occupied territories?
ZMINA has previously reported on how the Russian occupiers declare Ukrainians’ property in the temporarily occupied territories "ownerless" and expropriate it. This article looks at who is ending up in Ukrainians’ homes and how the process works in practice
News
Russian drone strike kills man in Chernihiv Oblast amid wider attacks on Ukraine
Emergency workers discovered the 58-year-old man's body while responding to the aftermath of the attack
Human rights defenders document 26 cases of pressure against journalists and activists in Crimea over the past year – ZMINA
Occupation authorities continue to restrict journalists' access to trials in politically motivated cases under the pretext of "counterterrorism security". Since the start of the full-scale war, independent and citizen journalists have effectively been barred from entering "court" buildings in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea
Nearly 700 methods of torture are used against Ukrainian civilian captives and prisoners of war in Russian prisons – Ombudsman’s Office
According to Dmytro Lubinets, prisoners are strangled, set upon by dogs, tortured with electroshock devices and forced to stand motionless for up to 18 hours, with beatings used as punishment if they attempt to sit down
About 7,000 prisoners of war and up to 20,000 civilians are currently in Russian captivity – deputy speaker of the Verkhovna Rada
Kondratiuk stressed that gathering evidence to hold perpetrators accountable remains critically important, particularly amid what she described as insufficient sanctions pressure on Russia
European conscientious objection group calls for release of imprisoned believers in Ukraine
The report cites data showing that last year, at least 110 people in Ukraine who refused military service because of their faith were imprisoned under court rulings that violate human rights. Thousands of such believers are being forcibly held in military units, while many have faced arbitrary detention and torture
Russian strikes killed seven civilians in Ukraine on May 26
Russian strikes killed seven civilians in the Odesa, Kherson and Donetsk regions on 26 May, while nearly 50 others were injured, including in the Kharkiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Chernihiv regions, Ukraine’s National Police reported
Zelenskyy sends Donald Trump urgent letter warning of Ukraine’s critical missile defense shortages – the Kyiv Independent
The Kyiv Independent noted that Ukrainian officials fear the country's limited supply of Patriot interceptors and other Western-provided systems may struggle to withstand bombardments
Russians kill five Ukrainians in Mykolaivka in Donetsk Oblast
Russian forces also struck the Pokrovsk and Bakhmut Districts, damaging an office building and residential buildings in both areas
Russians kill four in their large-scale attack on Ukraine and injured 100 (updated)
Outside Kyiv, the regions of Cherkasy, Kharkiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy, and Zhytomyr have also come under attack
A Russian drone attacked a funeral procession in Sumy, killing one person and injuring 14 others
The military administration later reported that a 16-year-old girl was injured in an FPV drone strike on the outskirts of Sumy. The girl was at a public transport stop at the time. The child has also been taken to the hospital
Russian strikes killed six civilians in Ukraine on May 21
Russian strikes killed six civilians in the Donetsk, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv regions on 21 May, while nearly 30 others were injured, including in the Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, and Sumy Oblasts
Two 17-year-olds have been evacuated from Russian-occupied territories: The girl secretly studied the Ukrainian curriculum, while the boy lived in isolation for more than two years
After finishing the ninth grade, Artem was unable to continue his online studies at his Ukrainian school due to unstable internet access. At the same time, he refused to attend a Russian school. As a result, he effectively lived in social isolation for more than two years, rarely leaving home and barely communicating with other people
Russian strikes killed six civilians in Ukraine on May 20 (updated)
Russian strikes killed four civilians in the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Chernihiv, and Sumy regions on 20 May 2026, while at least 47 others were injured, including in the Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Kherson Oblasts
Prosecutors say captured Russian soldier raped woman for two months in occupied village
He said law enforcement authorities are currently investigating 26 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in the Donetsk Oblast. The victims include 17 women, three men, and six children. Ten of the cases involve rape
Ukraine submits new ICC evidence on deportation of more than 1,800 prisoners to Russia
The materials submitted to the ICC are based on testimonies from more than 400 victims and witnesses, as well as an analysis of Russian court rulings, official documents, responses from Russian state bodies, and other evidence
Russian shelling kills civilians across Ukraine on May 19
Russian shelling killed civilians in the Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Kharkiv regions on 19 May, while more than 50 people were injured, including in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions
Russians kill six civilians across Ukraine on May 18
Six civilians were killed in the Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kherson regions due to Russian shelling on May 18, while at least 31 others were injured, including in the Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Odesa regions
Russian missile strike in Pryluky kills three, including a 15-year-old boy; 23 wounded
Three people were killed, and at least 23 civilians were injured as a result of Russian shelling in the Chernihiv Oblast on May 19, 2026
Russian authorities unlawfully hold former kindergarten employee Olha Syrotenko from Enerhodar in pretrial detention in Mariupol
In December 2024, FSB officers abducted her from her flat
Kyiv Commercial Court Judge Inna Otrosh has called for a probe into the activities of NGOs involved in judicial reform, including Human Rights Centre ZMINA
The judge also urged an appeal to international donors to cease funding certain organizations, specifically the DEJURE Foundation, and to investigate potential corruption risks in the activities of the Public Integrity Council (PIC) members. Furthermore, she proposed either abolishing the PIC entirely or banning funding for its operations
Russian overnight attack on Dnipro leaves 28 injured
A Russian overnight attack on a residential area in Dnipro has left 28 people injured, eight of them hospitalized
Front Line Defenders slams Ukrainian police inaction after attack on activists Olena Shevchenko and Anastasiia Gerasymenko
Front Line Defenders called on Ukrainian authorities to publicly condemn the attack, ensure the victims have access to medical and legal assistance, conduct an impartial investigation, and guarantee the safety of human rights defenders working to protect the rights of women and the LGBTIQ+ community
On Genocide Remembrance Day, Mejlis calls on international community to protect Indigenous rights, support Ukraine
The authors of the statement noted that history demonstrates a tragic continuity, as the Crimean Tatar people have once again become victims of repression and persecution
Russia launched over 3,000 drones, 70 missiles at Ukraine in a week, killing 52 – Zelenskyy
The president emphasized the need to strengthen Ukraine's air defense and the importance of international support, particularly additional contributions to anti-ballistic missile defense
European, Japanese and U.S. parts helped Russia build missiles that killed 24, including three children, in Kyiv – Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy warned that if Russia's war machine is allowed to continue, its next strikes could target Europe, Russia's other neighbors, and more distant regions, pointing to Russian involvement in Syria and Africa as evidence of its broader ambitions
Council of Europe sets up steering committee for Special Tribunal on Russia’s crime of aggression: Why it matters
Ukrainian officials explained that the decision marks a point of no return, effectively making the Special Tribunal a legal reality. The "accountability infrastructure," as the ministry calls it, will consist of three elements: the Special Tribunal, the International Claims Commission, and the Register of Damage
Russian attacks claimed the lives of 26 civilians in Ukraine on May 14
On May 14, 2026, 26 civilians were killed in Kyiv and the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions due to Russian shelling. At least 127 others sustained injuries, including in the Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Chernihiv regions
Russian human rights activist Nina Litvinova has committed suicide due to Russia’s war against Ukraine
A fragment of the letter was published by her cousin, the journalist Masha Slonim: in the message, the woman lists the names of modern Russian political prisoners whose trials she attended and states that she no longer has the strength to endure the war against Ukraine and the ongoing repressions
Russian attacks on May 13 killed six civilians across Ukraine
As a result of Russian shelling on May 13, 2026, six civilians were killed in the Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions. Additionally, nearly forty people sustained injuries, including in the Sumy and Ivano-Frankivsk Oblasts
Suspect in the deportation of children from occupied Kherson region becomes an ombudsperson in Russia
Yana Lantratova is a 37-year-old Russian politician who is primarily known in Ukraine as a key figure in the case involving the abduction of Marharyta Prokopenko and Illya Vashchenko from the occupied Kherson Oblast
Russia killed at least 24 civilians, including three children, in Kyiv and injured dozens more civilians across various regions in a massive wave of missile and drone strikes (updated)
As a result of Russian shelling on the night of May 14, consequences including fatalities, dozens of civilian casualties, and widespread destruction have been reported in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, Odesa, Poltava, and Donetsk regions
Nine civilians killed in Ukraine by Russian strikes on May 12
Russian shelling killed nine civilians in the Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions, and over thirty others sustained injuries, including in the Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Kherson Oblasts, on May 12, 2026
In 2025, Russians killed 41 residents of Kharkiv and injured over 970 people – Mayor Terekhov
According to Terekhov, the Russian army constantly changes its tactics and employs various types of weaponry in combined strikes against the city. Therefore, throughout the four years of the full-scale war, Kharkiv has had to adapt to new threats, with constant aerial attacks remaining the primary danger
Russian authorities hold former ATO veteran Pavlo Zaporozhets in penal colony in Omsk
Lidiia told that she passed Pavlo a Russian–French dictionary in 2023, when he was held in a pre-trial detention centre in Rostov. He started learning French then. At Vladimir Central prison, where he was later held, the staff of the custodial setting forbade him from using the dictionary
International Criminal Court declares Tajikistan’s failure to execute arrest warrant for Putin
In October 2025, Russian dictator Putin visited Tajikistan for a series of summits; however, the country's authorities ignored the International Criminal Court's requirements to arrest the Russian leader on suspicion of involvement in the deportation of Ukrainian children
Sixty-three countries agree to develop joint strategy on return of deported Ukrainian children
The objective of the the High-Level Meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children was to strengthen collective efforts to secure the safe return of children unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred by the Russian Federation in the course of its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine
Russia ended ceasefire by resuming mass drone and air attacks on Ukraine – Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy also said that until that happens, sanctions against Moscow remain necessary and should continue to be enforced and strengthened, with no easing of pressure. Zelenskyy called on partners to continue working together for security, justice, and lasting peace
Ukraine’s Ombudsman flags mental health emergency in psychiatric wards during 2025 blackouts
Lost power worsens patients' condition, leading to the decompensation of mental disorders. Darkness and the disruption of daily routines trigger increased anxiety, panic attacks, and aggressive outbursts. Disoriented patients in darkened wards create additional risks for medical staff, significantly complicating supervision and increasing the likelihood of injuries and dangerous situations, Ukrainian Ombudsman concluded
Russia uses WWII celebrations to indoctrinate children in occupied Crimea – Crimean Human Rights Group
Human rights advocate of the Crimean Human Rights Group, Iryna Siedova, emphasized that such events create an association in children's minds between war and celebration, destroying the values of peace and preparing Ukrainian children for military service in the occupier's army
RSF calls for the immediate release of Ukrainian journalist Iryna Levchenko, kidnapped in occupied Melitopol three years ago
According to the organization, Russia is currently holding at least 26 Ukrainian journalists, most of whom are detained in dire conditions. RSF underscores that such actions are aimed at suppressing freedom of speech in the occupied territories of Ukraine
Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with a missile and dozens of drones: five killed in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Chernihiv regions (updated)
On the night of May 9, 2026, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with an "Iskander-M" ballistic missile launched from temporarily occupied Crimea and 43 strike drones. Russian attacks in the Chernihiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions resulted in the deaths of four civilians
Russian shelling killed four civilians in Ukraine on May 7
Russian shelling on May 7, 2026, killed four civilians and injured at least 52 others. Fatalities were reported in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, while various injuries were recorded in the Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv Oblasts
Russian attacks have damaged or destroyed 36 prisons, 98 police detention facilities, and 167 court buildings in Ukraine since 2022 – Ombudsman
Ombudsman has issued acts of response regarding the necessity of timely urgent measures to ensure the temporary relocation of institutional care facilities located in active combat zones or nearby settlements, as well as in zones less than 50 km from the state borders with Russia and the Republic of Belarus
Russia shows “not even token attempt” to cease fire despite own truce – Zelenskyy
The head of the Ukrainian state said that over the course of last night, the Russian army continued to strike Ukrainian positions
Russian strikes killed 10 civilians in Ukraine on May 6
Russian shelling on May 6, 2026, killed 10 civilians and injured at least 52 others. Fatalities were reported in the Sumy, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, while various injuries were recorded in the Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions
Russian strikes killed 26 civilians and injured over 150 across Ukraine on May 5
Russian shelling on May 5, 2026, killed 26 civilians and injured over 150 others. Fatalities were reported in the Poltava, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, while various injuries were recorded in the Kharkiv, Kherson, and Sumy Oblasts
Russian shelling killed 17 civilians in Ukraine on May 4
Russian shelling on May 4, 2026, killed 17 civilians in the Kharkiv, Donetsk, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, and at least 62 more were wounded, including in the Chernihiv Oblast, according to the National Police of Ukraine
Russian overnight strike: at least five killed, over 30 injured; rail Infrastructure targeted in three regions (updated)
As a result of Russian shelling on the night of May 5, 2026, in the Poltava, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions, civilian casualties and injuries have been reported by regional military administrations and the State Emergency Service (SES), as well as the destruction of infrastructure, specifically railway infrastructure
Political decision and a dangerous precedent: Experts comment on Poland’s release of the architect Butyagin, who was to be extradited to Ukraine
During the review of the request, Poland provided a proper assessment of the Ukrainian side's materials and recognized them as sufficient to resolve the issue of extraditing the individual to Ukraine. The subsequent decision regarding Butyagin was made in the context of international agreements related to the exchange of detainees
Russia abducts at least 17 Crimean residents, holds them incommunicado for months – Irade human rights initiative
Monitoring conducted by the Irade between February 2025 and May 2025
Russian drones target Kherson all day, kill two, wound 13 including teens
Russian forces killed at least two people and injured 13 others in multiple drone strikes across Kherson on May 2, 2026б with Russia targeting buses, pedestrians, and teenagers throughout the day
At the UN, Ukraine highlighted systematic persecution of journalists in Russian-occupied territories
Ukraine called on the international community to demand the release of all illegally detained journalists and to strengthen the response to Russian information campaigns
