31 May 2026
Articles
People of “Without Home” are people without pause: how a volunteer initiative is helping those in need
Every Saturday at 2:00 p.m., hundreds of people gather near Kyiv’s central railway station. Some come for a hot meal, some for medicine, and some simply for the opportunity to talk without fear of judgement. There are no document checks or unnecessary questions here. If a person has come, it means they need help. This is how the volunteer initiative "Without Home", founded in 2019, has been operating for many years. Today, it is much more than weekly distributions of hot meals, medicines and other essential items.
“Everything depends on us”: Tetiana Pechonchyk on building Ukraine’s human rights infrastructure amid war
Tetiana Pechonchyk grew up in a village contaminated by the Chornobyl fallout, where her parents measured mushrooms with a dosimeter before putting them on the table. She organised her first protest as a schoolgirl - calling on her classmates to boycott the unpaid fieldwork in the collective farm fields - and has never really stopped since
Repression of political prisoners in Belarus: five Ukrainians remain behind bars
A year ago, ZMINA published the stories of 15 Ukrainian citizens who had been detained and imprisoned in Belarus. In this article, we look at the cases of Ukrainians who remain imprisoned in Belarus and share the testimonies of those who were released through US mediation in exchange for the easing of sanctions.
“War is when your sister dies of her wounds in your arms while Russians torture your son for ten months”: how a mother searched for missing Ivan Zabavskyi in Russia
Ivan Zabavskyi, a resident of Tavilzhanka in the Kharkiv Oblast, was subjected to such a Russian sham trial. He was abducted while travelling to pick up his mother from occupied territory and was subsequently held in basements, where he was tortured and forced to sign a "confession" to a crime he had not committed
News
New draft civil code changes inheritance rules for same-sex couples – lawyer
ZMINA previously reported that, as part of its EU accession process, Ukraine must establish a legal framework for civil partnerships to ensure the rights of same-sex couples. This requirement is set out in a number of documents, including the EU's joint position adopted on 12 June
Russian strikes kill 14 civilians in Ukraine on 29 June
Russian strikes killed 11 civilians in the Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv regions (oblasts) on 29 June, while at least 98 others were injured in attacks that also affected the Kherson, Chernihiv and Donetsk Oblasts
Russian strikes kill at least 10, injure 39 across Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia on June 29 (updated)
Five people are in a critical condition in Dnipro – they are men aged 22, 33, 54, 58 and 59
Melitopol journalist Anastasiia Hlukhovska declares hunger strike in Russian detention centre
Anastasiia Hlukhovska has been held in Russian captivity for almost three years in an incommunicado status. Since her abduction in August 2023, Russia has effectively held her without contact with the outside world and without officially confirming her place of detention
US Human Rights Commission calls for release of Crimean Tatar journalist Rustem Sheikhaliyev on his 47th birthday
Russian security forces detained Sheikhaliyev during mass searches of Crimean Tatar homes in March 2019. At the time, more than two dozen people were arrested simultaneously in occupied Simferopol and surrounding areas
Russian strikes kill five and wound 29 across five Ukrainian regions overnight
Russians killed five people and injured 29 others in strikes across Donetsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions on June 22, 2026
UN Secretary-General calls on Russia to preserve the legal identity of Ukrainian children and to return them
The UN Secretary-General's annual report on children and armed conflict, covering 2025, also verified 1,899 grave violations against 781 children in Ukraine - 447 boys and 334 girls
Russian attacks kill at least six civilians across Ukraine overnight, Egyptian sailor dies after strike on cargo ship in Black Sea
In the Sumy Oblast, Russian shelling killed a 13-year-old boy, his father and his grandmother. The boy's 31-year-old mother, his 10-year-old brother and his 13-year-old sister have been injured
How Ukraine collects data on equality and discrimination: Ombudsman’s office highlights gaps
In the European Union, equality data is a crucial tool for identifying discrimination and inequalities across various sectors. Ukraine has corresponding obligations for EU accession, as outlined in the government's rule-of-law roadmap
Blind Crimean political prisoner Oleksandr Sizikov discharged from hospital and being transferred to prison in Minusinsk
While in the hospital, he underwent three medical examinations. The Kremlin prisoner was discharged on 10 June, 2026. According to Sizikov, he was due to be transferred on either 13 or 18 June to the facility where he is serving his unlawful sentence
Russian FPV drone kills three civilians, including elderly mother and son, in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region
According to Hanzha, those killed are an 87-year-old mother and her 51-year-old son. "Law enforcement officers are currently establishing the identity of the third victim," the administration reported
Citizen journalist Vilen Temerianov returned to Rostov pre-trial detention centre after a month in hospital
The journalist also needs to undergo a CT scan and is expected to be hospitalised again for this procedure
FSB detained man in Sevastopol over online comments about Balaklava Thermal Power Plant
The man’s identity and his response to the allegations are unknown. There has been no independent confirmation of the information released by the Russian security services
Russian strikes kill at least 13 and set fire to Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (updated)
The city suffered extensive destruction, including the 11th-century Dormition Cathedral in the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the Anti-Corruption Court building
Death toll from Russian strike on railway infrastructure in Sumy Oblast rises to two
Hryhorov said doctors had battled for almost 24 hours to save her life, but had been unable to do so. Her injuries had been extremely severe
Russian military strikes killed seven civilians in Ukraine on 11 June
Russian military strikes on 11 June 2026 killed seven civilians in the Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Sumy regions and injured 56 others, including in the Kharkiv and Kherson Oblasts
Bilingual street signs and minority symbols: Kachka details agreements with Hungary
The Ukrainian vice prime minister added that the Hungarian government has also become convinced that the rights of the Hungarian minority are already being upheld in Ukraine, with ample opportunities for both education and the exercise of linguistic rights
Russian authorities sentenced a Sevastopol resident to five and a half years in prison over comments about the Kerch Bridge, which was illegally constructed by Russian occupiers
In addition, Oleksandr Maliarenko was charged with seven counts of "calling for violence against Russian citizens". In total, he faced 15 charges under articles covering "justification of terrorism" and "extremist activity". The verdict has not yet entered into force and may be appealed
Red Cross confirmed detention of only one of 26 Ukrainian journalists held in Russian captivity
The report also notes that those targeted include not only professional journalists but also civilians who document war crimes, gather information or pass it on to others
New Ukrainian online platform offers medical, legal resources for transgender transition
He noted that PEREHID.HUB (perehidhub.org) was created to consolidate knowledge, experience and practical information. The platform will share information about rights, opportunities and processes related to transgender issues, the transition process and supporting transgender people
Russian strikes killed seven civilians in Ukraine on 7 June
Russian military strikes on June 7, 2026, killed seven civilians in the Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions, and injured nearly 50 others, including in the Chernihiv, Sumy and Kharkiv Oblasts
Leaders of Ukraine, the UK, France and Germany outline five conditions for lasting peace
The parties "emphasised that Europe, as a steadfast ally of Ukraine, must play an important role in any settlement"
Russian guided bombs kill three civilians near a public transit stop in Zaporizhzhia region
As of 12:18 p.m., three injured individuals had sought medical assistance
Russian forces strike Centralized Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility in Kyiv region
The Centralised Spent Fuel Storage Facility, located in Chornobyl, is a site for the long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel from Ukraine's operating nuclear power plants
Russian strikes kill 12 civilians, injure 49 in Donetsk and Kherson regions on 5 June
Russian strikes in the Donetsk and Kherson regions on 5 June 2026 killed 12 people and injured 49 others, according to the Donetsk and Kherson regional military administrations
Russian military strikes killed nine civilians in Ukraine on 4 June
Russian military strikes on 4 June killed nine civilians in the Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Chernihiv and Sumy regions and injured at least 75 others, including in the Kharkiv Oblast
Putin has no intention of ending the war
Zelenskyy noted he had spoken with his diplomatic team. Ukraine is currently preparing for a series of meetings with its European and U.S. partners
Russian drones killed four civilians in food production facility of Yagotynske for Children plant in Kyiv Oblast
All necessary services are working at the scene. Emergency crews are continuing rescue operations, search efforts, and clean-up activities
Crimean artist Bohdan Ziza was transferred from Vladimir Central Prison
In December 2025, it emerged that Bohdan’s health was deteriorating in Russian captivity
Russian soldier Timur Ibriyev suspected of torturing a family in the Zaporizhzhia region
The man was beaten on the head and back with a hammer, handcuffed to a metal pipe, threatened with death, and repeatedly subjected to mock executions, with shots fired near his head
Gyunduz Mamedov becomes deputy chief of the Military Law Enforcement Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
The appointment reflects Ukraine's gradual move towards NATO standards, under which military police play a central role in documenting battlefield events. The department will systematically collect and archive digital evidence for use in investigations and proceedings for Ukrainian and international courts
Russian strikes killed 16 civilians in Ukraine on 3 June
Russian military strikes on 3 June killed 16 civilians in the Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Sumy regions and injured at least 95 others, including in the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions
About 6,500 priests exempt from mobilization in Ukraine
Churches and religious organisations carry out immense humanitarian and social work, strengthening the home front and supporting the front lines, so they can be designated as critical infrastructure if they meet a series of requirements, Yelenskyi said
More than half of Ukrainians support banning Ukrainian Orthodox Church over Russia ties – poll
More than two-thirds of Ukrainians (68%) rate the country's religious freedom as high, while 27% rate it as low. An overwhelming 88% of respondents said they had not experienced discrimination due to religious beliefs, either personally or through their families
Quran confiscated from citizen journalist Seiran Saliiev in Russian penal colony
Alongside the confiscation of the Quran, Saliiev has been repeatedly placed in a punishment cell. According to his family, since 2024, he has effectively been held in continuous solitary confinement, where he is punished even for minor formal violations, including an unbuttoned uniform or an allegedly improperly made bed
Russian forces killed 27 civilians in strikes across Ukraine on 2 June
Russian forces launched 73 missiles and 656 drones. Ukrainian air defences neutralised 642 aerial targets, including 11 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, 26 Kh-101 cruise missiles and three Kalibr cruise missiles
What Ukraine’s migration policy should look like on the path to the EU: Human rights advocates discuss reforms
Human rights defender Borys Zakharov, director of the Man and Law Charitable Foundation, stressed the need for judicial reform, warning that without an independent judiciary, law enforcement agencies could continue what he described as "repressive" practices. In his view, the State Migration Service and the Security Service of Ukraine also require reform
Ukraine pleads for Patriot missiles as Russian attacks kill at least 24 overnight (updated)
Zelenskyy elaborated that five Kalibr missiles contain 145 such components. Thirty-three Iskander missiles contain 1,122 components. Six hundred and fifty strike drones of various types contain more than 17,000 components, without which they could not be produced
Ukraine to establish new personal data protection agency: Why it matters
Ukraine's Law on Personal Data Protection, adopted in 2010, is now widely regarded as outdated. Experts say it fails to address many of today's key data protection challenges, including online data protection, the digitalisation of public and commercial services, cybersecurity and the growing use of advanced technologies
