temporarily occupied Crimea
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
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
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
“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
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
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 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
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
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
Ukrainian Maryna Riff has disappeared in occupied Crimea – human rights advocates speak of possible persecution
Ryff did not obtain Russian documents during the occupation
“Driving her to death”: the sister of Crimean activist Iryna Danylovych spoke about the conditions in a Russian colony
According to Danylovych's sister, appeals to the duty unit sometimes help, but more often, she is ignored or rudely refused treatment
Russia intensifies combat training for high schoolers in occupied Crimea — Irade human rights initiative
These actions directly violate Article 51 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits occupying powers from both compelling civilians to serve in their armed forces or conducting propaganda to secure voluntary enlistment
Russia plans to deploy all mobilized citizens of Ukraine from occupied Crimea to combat operations
Starting April 1, 2026, Russia plans to deploy all individuals mobilized from temporarily occupied Crimea into active combat. Specifically, there are plans to replace wounded and "unfit" personnel within the 810th Marine Brigade, stationed in Sevastopol, with these newly mobilized residents
Columns
Only 5% of those responsible for deporting Ukrainian children face global sanctions
The human safari: How Russia weaponized precision against Ukrainian civilians
The lesson of Crimea: Rewarding aggression only invites more war
Not just Ukraine — Russia is preparing Ukrainian children for future wars elsewhere
