occupied territories
Russia steps up pressure on exiled journalists: Reporters Without Borders condemns new repressive law
Russian authorities continue to expand the legal mechanisms they use to persecute independent journalists. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned a new law unanimously passed by the Russian State Duma on 24 July, 2026. The law imposes further restrictions on people designated as "foreign agents" in Russia or linked to so-called "undesirable organisations"
Four Ukrainian сhildren return from Russian-occupied territories with U.S. First Lady’s support
International humanitarian law prohibits the forcible transfer and deportation of children and any change to their personal status, and obliges parties to an armed conflict to facilitate the reunification of children with their families
Court in Moscow confiscates 123 real estate assets belonging to Jehovah’s Witnesses
A Moscow court has confiscated more than 123 properties belonging to Jehovah's Witnesses and transferred them to the Russian state on 31 July 2026
Russian appeal court upheld sentence against 66-year-old Melitopol resident Iryna Sukhovii
In May 2025, FSB officers detained pensioner Iryna Sukhovii. The illegitimate "Zaporizhzhia Regional Court" subsequently sentenced her to 12 years and six months in a general-regime penal colony for "high treason". The Russian occupying authorities accused her of providing financial support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In 2026, the First Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction in Moscow upheld the sentence and dismissed Sukhovii’s appeal. Aleksandr Pushkin, a judge at the court, issued the ruling
Losing home for a second time: How Russian occupiers are “nationalising” flats and houses in Mariupol
The article also explains how Ukrainians who have left the TOT can find out whether their homes have been "expropriated", and what steps they can take to document the loss of property and preserve the prospect of redress
Russian occupation forces detained man in Melitopol over online comments posted in 2022
Russian security forces claim that in September 2022, he posted messages in a public Telegram group for local residents. The occupation authorities classified them as "public calls to the performance of terrorist acts"
FSB detained local resident in occupied Crimea over pro-Ukrainian comments
A criminal case was opened against the man under Article 280(2) ("Public calls for extremist activities") of the Russian Criminal Code. Occupation law enforcement officers also said they were considering opening a case under Article 205.2(2) ("Public calls to the performance of terrorist acts") of the Russian Criminal Code.
Draft Ombudsman bill strengthens institution but carries politicization risks, Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research warns
According to the experts, one of the bill's main advantages is its alignment with European Union and Council of Europe standards. The effectiveness and independence of national human rights institutions remain key benchmarks in assessing Ukraine's compliance with the rule of law during its EU accession process
Chinese media expand their presence in Ukraine’s occupied territories and promote Kremlin narratives, RSF says
Although China does not officially recognise Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory, its media presence there continues to expand. As Vira Yastrebova, director of the Eastern Human Rights Group, pointed out, Chinese media actors frequently reproduce or reinforce Russian propaganda narratives
UK condemns Russia’s militarization and indoctrination of Ukrainian children, demands release of Ivan Zabavskyi and detained OSCE staff
The report published by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights concluded that Russia has violated International Humanitarian Law on a grand scale and is responsible for numerous and overlapping violations of International Human Rights Law.
Russia’s indoctrination and militarisation of Ukrainian children may amount to a crime against humanity – OSCE
The OSCE mission has documented that Russia systematically violates the rights of Ukrainian children, ranging from banning the Ukrainian language in schools to the forced conscription of boys into military service upon reaching the age of 18. The mission's legal analysis classifies the indoctrination and militarization of children as a crime against humanity, and specific episodes, including deportation and torture, as war crimes.
Russia’s Supreme Court upholds sentence of man convicted over pro-Ukraine comments
He was convicted under Part 2 of Article 205.2 ("Public calls for terrorist activity") of the Russian Criminal Code and Part 2 of Article 280 ("Public calls for extremist activity") of the same code
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
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
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 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
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
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
Columns
“Reaching an agreement with the US on what we disagree on”: What the campaign against ICC means for Ukraine
ICC must remain free from political pressure to bring justice to victims of world’s gravest crimes
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The human safari: How Russia weaponized precision against Ukrainian civilians
