prisoners of the Kremlin
Journalist Iryna Danylovych faces repeated death threats in Russian penal colony
Their names are known to the ZMINA editorial office. Novytska said they believe they can act with impunity and regularly threaten Iryna, including telling her they would face no consequences for killing her
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
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
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)
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
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
Illegally detained journalist Iryna Levchenko faces constant transfers for Russian investigations
Russian security forces transfer illegally imprisoned Ukrainian journalist Iryna Levchenko every ten days from a Donetsk Detention Centre to temporarily occupied Melitopol for investigative actions before returning her to Donetsk, the journalist wrote in a letter recently received by her family.
UN Special Rapporteurs yet to respond to appeal concerning Iryna Danylovych
Two months after international organisations appealed to six UN Special Rapporteurs to help secure the release of Crimean citizen journalist Iryna Danylovych and protect her rights, the UN experts have yet to respond, Olha Novytska, the sister of journalist and activist Iryna Danylovych
Ukraine’s indigenous peoples face repression and erasure of identity under Russian occupation, Mejlis chairman says
The Mejlis chairman Refat Chubarov noted that Ukraine's state policy must include assisting people living in the occupied territories and preparing for the de-occupation of the peninsula to integrate a liberated Crimea into Ukraine's legal and political space
Three years in Russian captivity: Anastasiia Hlukhovska still cut off from her family
The pre-trial Detention Centre No. 33 in Kyzyl remains the journalist’s last known place of detention. The facility has also been linked to the detention of other Ukrainian civilians, including journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna and Yevhen Matvieiev, the mayor of Dniprorudne, both of whom died in Russian captivity
Crimean political prisoner Larysa Haidai loses weight and grows weak behind bars, Crimean Human Rights Group says
A 62-year-old Crimean political prisoner, Larysa Haidai, has lost 15 kilograms and become weaker after being held completely incommunicado by Russian occupying forces for more than two years
Crimean political prisoner Yevhen Shved, already sentenced twice, charged with “high treason”
Russian occupation authorities have brought a new charge of "high treason" against Crimean political prisoner Yevhen Shved, whom they have already sentenced twice, Vladyslav Yesypenko, a journalist and former Kremlin prisoner
Russian Justice Ministry targets more activists of Crimean Solidarity grassroots movement
On 24 June 2026, the Russian Justice Ministry expanded the list of people it considers members of the Crimean Solidarity grassroots movement, which had previously been added to Russia’s register of foreign agents. The list now contains 137 names
Kremlin prisoners: How to write a letter to political a prisoner
Since the outbreak of a full-scale war, Russia has ramped up its repression against Ukrainian citizens. Russian authorities are continuing to illegally detain Ukrainians and file politically motivated charges against them in order to get Ukraine to make concessions.
Crimean Solidarity grass-roots initiative ceases operations
The movement stressed that many of its members who assisted victims of political repression had themselves faced fines, administrative detention and criminal prosecution. These activities were among the reasons why Crimean Solidarity was added to the register
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.
Crimean political prisoner Lenur Khalilov, who has cancer, is in critical condition
More than two months ago, Khalilov was transferred from a penal colony to a regional hospital run by Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service in the Arkhangelsk Region (Oblast). However, the prescribed treatment has yielded no results, failing to halt the progression of the disease or alleviate his pain
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
Columns
Fighting a ‘holy war’: Why a sacralised war resists Western strategy
“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
Only 5% of those responsible for deporting Ukrainian children face global sanctions
