31 August 2026
Articles
Believers behind bars: Why alternative service is needed during the war and who will be entitled to it
Before the full-scale invasion, believers belonging to ten religious organizations in Ukraine had the right to alternative service when called up for compulsory military service. Their faith does not allow them to take up weapons or swear a military oath.
‘China and Russia keep Myanmar’s regime afloat’: ACLED’s Su Mon on the hidden war
ACLED's Asia-Pacific senior analyst Su Mon has spent years tracking the war's toll on civilians. In this ZMINA interview, she explains the pattern behind the military's near-total impunity, how China and Russia help shield it from accountability, and what the international community could still do
‘The most frightening moment is when you are left on your own’: How Crimean Solidarity supported people for 10 years
ZMINA article examines the movement’s importance both in resisting political repression in Crimea and in providing vital support to affected families, as well as the consequences of its closure that are already being felt
From defending students’ rights to an ‘informal chat’ with the Security Service of Ukraine – all it takes is one protest: What is happening to Priama Diia?
ZMINA gathered accounts from Priama Diia activists in several cities and examined the case against Maksym Shumakov, the positions of his defence team and the union’s opponents, and the organisation’s public activities. We explore where the accusations of "communism" and pro-Russian sympathies come from, which claims the facts support, what Priama Diia actually does, and what evidence points to systematic pressure over its civic activism
News
Russian-controlled court upholds 15-year prison sentence for Iryna Levchenko
In September, the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Regional Court in Melitopol sentenced Levchenko to 15 years in prison for "espionage" under Russian law. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) alleged that she had passed information to Ukraine about the locations of Russian administrative bodies and security agencies, their personnel, and the routes used to move troops, military equipment and weapons
September sanctions wave: US and Canada target individuals and legal entities involved in the deportation of Ukrainian children
The US law targets not only direct perpetrators but also those "indirectly" involved, effectively threatening sanctions against the vast network of Russian officials, guardianship structures, and transport operators facilitating child removals
Ukraine’s National Preventive Mechanism flags legal gaps in POW camp governance despite satisfactory conditions
Russian prisoners of war held in Ukraine are fed three times a day, sleep in heated rooms and can buy goods at in-camp shops. Yet the facilities holding them lack any dedicated legal rulebook, and at least one camp has been recording excessive working hours with no proper oversight, Ukraine's National Preventive Mechanism reported
People try to escape burning National Academy of Sciences building in Kyiv after Russian strike (updated)
According to Klitschko, emergency services are heading to the scene
Save the Children warns of new AI and drone threats to children in conflict zones
The report also highlights Gaza as an example of a new phase in modern warfare, in which drone surveillance, AI-supported targeting and other unmanned systems are being used at an alarming scale in densely populated areas
Swiss voters turn down strict neutrality proposal backed by Moscow
The move would have also prevented Switzerland from pursuing closer ties with the Nato military alliance.
Russian authorities opened at least four criminal cases over online posts in occupied Crimea over a two-week period
Over the past two weeks, Russian security forces have announced at least four new criminal cases against residents of temporarily occupied Crimea over posts, comments and other online content
Russians killed Hillmont Partners lawyer Serhii Stretovych during his military duty in Donetsk region
On 26 September 2026, Stretovych was buried in the village of Meleni in the Zhytomyr Oblast, where he was originally from
Russian shelling across Ukraine kills 10 civilians and injures at least 44 on 24 September
On 24 September 2026, Russian military shelling killed 10 civilians in Kyiv and the Donetsk and Kharkiv Regions (Oblasts) and injured at least 44 others, particularly in the Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kyiv and Odesa Oblasts
Working group in Ukraine formed to address residency, ranks and compensation for foreign military personnel
Among the tasks of the working group are simplifying legalisation and medical accompaniment in case of injury, as well as providing the opportunity to receive officer ranks and hold positions.
Seven killed and 43 injured in Russian drone attacks on Kyiv
The National Police of Ukraine reported that two of those killed were found in the street near the office building, one inside the building, and the other in a car in the car park
Ukraine to increase assistance for persons with disabilities since childhood by 2.4 times in 2027
In the 2027 draft state budget, social sector expenditures increased to 540.3 billion hryvnias, up 72.6 billion hryvnias from 2026
Centres based on the Barnahus model to be included in state child protection system in Ukraine
Ukraine is implementing the Barnahus model as part of its obligations to the EU and the Council of Europe, in particular to implement the Lanzarote Convention. This is one of the key steps towards child-friendly justice, which operates successfully in Europe
Military Ombudsman’s Office receives over 15,000 complaints in first eight months
The Military Ombudsman's Office urged the Ukrainian parliament to support draft law No. 13267 in the second reading, which will expand the institution's powers. In particular, the military ombudsman will have the right to draw up administrative protocols and hold commanders and officials of all levels accountable through the courts
UN coalition seeks to prosecute Russia’s militarisation of Ukrainian children as a crime against humanity
At the UN General Assembly, governments advanced a new international approach to accountability for the forced erasure of children’s identity and their militarisation
National Police report 12 dead and 68 injured following Russian strikes on 23 September
On 23 September 2026, Russian military shelling killed 12 civilians in Kyiv and the Donetsk and Kharkiv Regions (Oblasts) and injured at least 78 others, particularly in the Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts
No violations of the Hungarian community’s rights found: Ukrainian Ombudsman discusses first monitoring of schools in the Zakarpattia region
During a two-day visit by the Hungarian Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, Imre Juhász, to Ukraine, the first joint monitoring visits to educational institutions in the oblast took place. Three monitoring groups worked simultaneously in the oblast
Russians severely damaged Orthodox church in Kramatorsk
Kramatorsk suffers daily from Russian strikes using various weapons, and overall, the Donetsk Oblast is one of the regions most affected by Russian aggression
Military Ombudsman’s Office of Ukraine proposes counting one day in captivity as three days of service
The draft law was sent to the parliamentary Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence. The institution's team is urging Ukrainian MPs to support the proposal
Ukrainian journalist and former political prisoner Vladyslav Yesypenko calls for coordinated support for Ukrainians in Russian captivity
The journalist met with Michal Geisler, a representative of the Czech president, and Karel Dvořák, a Czech parliamentarian. Their discussions covered, among other issues, the Czech Republic’s potential role in mediating the return of Ukrainian civilian hostages and access for the International Committee of the Red Cross to Russian detention facilities
Russian shelling in Kyiv kills two and injures at least 45 civilians (updated)
As of 13:30, it is known that two people were killed and at least 20 were injured with varying degrees of severity
Russian citizens charged in absentia with war crimes over torture of Ukrainian civilians
The new notice of suspicion relates to the torture of four men illegally detained in the Kyiv Oblast in March 2022
Four injured monks and body of deceased clergyman evacuated under Russian shelling in Kherson Oblast
Four monks from a local monastery were evacuated from the Novoraisk "hromada", a local government area that includes one or more nearby settlements. Most likely, it is the St Gregory's Monastery
Nicaragua’s authorities committed crimes against humanity – United Nations
The Nicaraguan Government of Co-Presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo has weaponized enforced disappearance to crush dissent and control the population, the UN Group of Human Rights Experts stated
Director of Ternopil region psycho-neurological facility accused of human trafficking
According to the investigation, facility's director exploited the vulnerable state of the residents, forcibly sent them to construction sites, cemeteries and private households, and pocketed the money they earned – between 150 and 450 hryvnias per day per person
Russian shelling kills six civilians and injures 44 across Ukraine on 20 September
Russian military shelling on 20 September 2026 killed six civilians in the Kharkiv, Donetsk and Sumy Regions, and injured at least 44 more, including in the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts
Another Pskov paratrooper receives notice of suspicion in absentia for torturing a civilian in Bucha
The suspect is Zaur Melikov, a serviceman of the 234th Air Assault Regiment of the 76th Air Assault Division of the Russian Armed Forces Airborne Troops
Over 14,000 children registered for adoption in Ukraine
The majority of children registered for adoption in Ukraine are raised in foster families, family-type children's homes, or under guardianship or care. However, about 3,000 children remain in institutional facilities
NGO Crimean Process prepared recommendations on imprisoned journalists for new UN Special Rapporteur
The human rights organisation Crimean Process has prepared recommendations for the new UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, urging greater attention to journalists held in Russian custodial settings. The organisation compared its own data with information from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Fellow prisoner enlisted to torture Iryna Danylovych in Russian penal colony – human rights defenders
Another prisoner is taking part in the psychological abuse of Iryna Danylovych, a Crimean citizen journalist and activist, at Penal Colony No. 7 in Zelenokumsk, in Russia’s Stavropol Krai
Russian forces widely use sexual violence and torture against detainees, UN reports
OHCHR stated that the patterns observed indicate that sexual violence has been used as a method of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment against prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians
Russian shelling kills nine civilians and injures at least 69 across Ukraine on 16 September
Russian military shelling on 16 September 2026 killed nine civilians in the Sumy, Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk Regions (Oblasts), and injured at least 69 more, including in Kyiv and the Odesa, Kharkiv and Kirovohrad Oblasts
Ukraine’s Ombudsman receives over 300 appeals this year regarding payments to families of fallen defenders
According to Lubinets, in practice, the families of fallen defenders are forced to wait for documents from military units for half a year, and sometimes for a whole year. Not a single military unit official has been held accountable for the delays
Kyiv region opens specialised recovery centre for children affected by war and violence
Barnahus model centres are places where multidisciplinary teams operate, bringing together psychologists, medical professionals, social workers and law enforcement officers. In these centres, children who have witnessed or survived violence are interviewed only once to avoid re-traumatisation
Russian shelling kills seven and injures 68 civilians across Ukraine on 13 September
Russian military shelling on 13 September killed seven civilians in the Zhytomyr, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Sumy Regions (Oblasts), and injured at least 68 more, including in the Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv and Odesa Oblasts
16,000 foreign volunteers serve in the Ukrainian military: What challenges they face
The Military Ombudsman's Office conducted a comprehensive study of the path of a foreign volunteer in the Ukrainian Defence Forces. Based on these findings, the institution sent proposals to the President's Office and the Defence Ministry on how to improve legislation to ensure proper service conditions for these military personne
Russian drone strikes train near Ukraine-Poland border shortly after Boris Johnson passes through
In a statement, Ukraine's railway authority Ukrzaliznytsia said the diplomatic train "had left the station earlier than expected because of the timetable change... due to constant threats of Russian strikes"
Draft Labour Code enshrines ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
The National LGBTI Consortium analysed the government's proposed changes in the context of human rights for LGBTIQ+ people and gender equality. The ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is already present in the current Labour Code of Ukraine. In the new code, it is proposed to move it to Article 5, "Equality of labour rights. Prohibition of discrimination, mobbing (bullying), harassment"
Torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Mordovia: Number of victims in Russian medic’s case increases
In total, almost 200 Ukrainian prisoners of war could have passed through the colony in Mordovia
Journalist Iryna Levchenko tortured with electric shocks in secret prison in Melitopol
The media outlet RIA Pivden published Levchenko’s testimony
Russian drone hits Odesa apartment block as overnight barrage leaves three dead and 29 injured nationwide
Overnight on 12 September, the Russian military attacked Ukraine with ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as attack drones, resulting in fatalities and injuries, including a child, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and heads of local regional military administrations stated
Russian military strikes across Ukraine leave 11 civilians dead and 126 wounded on 10 September
Eleven civilians were killed and at least 126 others were injured across the Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk Regions (Oblasts), with casualties also reported in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts, as a result of Russian military shelling over the course of 10 September, the National Police reported
Russian strikes kill 317 civilian energy workers over four years of war
Many energy workers have also joined the military, and at least 1,813 have been killed during their service
FSB has detained a resident of occupied Kerch for alledgely “justifying terrorism”
Russian security forces have detained a 53-year-old man in Kerch, in temporarily occupied Crimea, accusing him of allegedly "justifying terrorism" online
Anthropic details misuse of AI models for biological weapons research and cyber espionage
In addition to detecting the use of its models for cyber and influence operations, surveillance, scams and fraud, and weapon development, Anthropic said it had blocked scientists who used its AI in ways that could support biological weapons development
Russian drone strikes target two gas stations in Kyiv, injuring civilians
Russian attacks on Kyiv continued throughout the day, leaving two people dead and 12 injured, including a 12-year-old boy, according to the latest data from the capital's authorities.
Man faces trial in occupied Melitopol over online comment posted four years ago
The occupation authorities continue to use old posts and comments by residents of the Melitopol area as grounds for criminal prosecution
Human rights defenders identified six people involved in persecution of journalist Hennadii Osmak
The Crimean Human Rights Group (CHRG) has identified six officials within Russia’s occupation apparatus involved in the illegitimate criminal prosecution of Hennadii Osmak, a journalist from the occupied city of Henichesk
Russian strikes kill 14 civilians across seven Ukrainian regions, police report
As a result of Russian military shelling over the course of 9 September 2026, 14 civilians were killed, and at least 102 others were injured across Kyiv and the Sumy, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk Regions (Oblasts), with casualties also reported in the Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts, the National Police reported
Interviewing in a friendly space: How ‘green room’ methodology for children is used in pre-trial detention centres in Ukraine
The interior of a "green room" features comfortable, soft furniture, games, pencils and colouring books. The room is equipped with video surveillance. A psychologist works with the child. Investigators, prosecutors or other interested parties are in a separate room at this time and observe the broadcast from video cameras or through a one-way mirror
Freed prisoners of war could stay in non-combat posts under military ombudsman’s proposal
The military ombudsman’s team developed three proposals in August 2026 to improve legislation protecting service personnel’s rights. These include allowing those released from captivity to choose their roles if they continue serving. They can choose to remain in the military after their release, but cannot choose their roles
Rights group submits findings on suspected breaches of Russia sanctions to EU authorities
Further research and analysis found strong indications that many of these components were intended for the production of weapons Russia uses to commit war crimes in Ukraine, including Su-34, Su-35 and Su-57 aircraft, Kh-59, Kh-101 and Iskander-K missiles, as well as UPMB/UPMK glide bombs
Anthropic researcher puts risk of AI wiping out humanity at over 10%
There have been a growing number of voices within the industry calling for international coordination to slow AI development
Russian shelling across six Ukrainian regions leaves multiple dead and injured
Russian military shelling overnight and on the morning of 8 September 2026 resulted in fatalities, injuries and destruction across Kyiv and the Kyiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Odesa Regions (Oblasts), the respective regional military administrations and the State Emergency Service reported
Death toll from 1 September Russian strike on Kyiv rises to nine
The death toll from the Russian strike on Kyiv on the night of 1 September 2026 has risen to nine
Russian drone attacks kill five and injure seven in three Ukrainian regions
On the evening of 5 September and overnight into 6 September 2026, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with drones. As a result of the strikes, two people were killed in the Kyiv Region (Oblast), three – including a child – in Chuhuiv in the Kharkiv Oblast, and seven people were injured in the Khmelnytskyi Oblast
Russian attacks across four Ukrainian regions leave four dead and 13 injured
Four people were killed and 13 others were injured as a result of Russian attacks in the Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and Dnipropetrovsk Regions (Oblasts), the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported
Russian attack hits WHO humanitarian warehouse in Kyiv Oblast for third time in three months
In 2026, at least 20 attacks have affected warehouses storing humanitarian supplies, including 15 targeting those holding health-related supplies
Russian drone strike on minibus in Kherson kills one passenger and injures 12
On 4 September 2026, a Russian military attack in Kherson killed one civilian and injured 12 others, the National Police reported
Russian-controlled ‘court’ in occupied Melitopol sentences journalist Iryna Levchenko to 15 years in prison
Levchenko’s name was not disclosed in the statement issued by the Russian security service, which referred to her only by the first letter of her surname
Over 100 underground schools built in Ukraine with 131 more under construction
Butenko asserts that 82% of students can now study "safely" thanks to shelters of various levels of protection
Citizen journalist Asan Akhtemov has spent five years in Russian captivity
For a time, reading helped Asan cope with the hardships of imprisonment. Poor lighting has caused his eyesight to deteriorate significantly. He cannot currently undergo the eye examination he needs at the colony. Despite his prolonged imprisonment, Akhtemov continues to write letters
Hungary blocks EU progress on two more accession clusters for Ukraine
The source added that, in July 2026, before the summer break, Hungary agreed to approve only the screening results for cluster 3 for Moldova
Russian ship arrested in Norwegian port to compensate Ukraine’s Naftogaz for Crimean assets that Russia illegally seized
The decision was issued on 31 August 2026 by the Nord-Troms and Senja District Court, the statement said. Under the court's ruling, the vessel is not permitted to leave its current location – the port of Barentsburg in the Svalbard archipelago
Russian shelling kills 16 civilians and injures 57 across Ukraine on 1 September
On 1 September 2026, Russian military shelling killed 16 civilians in Kyiv and the Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Sumy Regions (Oblasts), and injured at least 57 more, in particular in the Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Odesa Oblasts
Russian strikes on Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast kill 12, injure 20, including two children
In Kyiv, six of the eight casualties were railway workers of the state Ukrzaliznytsia railway company after a depot was hit. Fires were reported in three city districts. Four people were killed in the town of Boryspil, where a residential building was hit
